Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015—19 —19
A prayer for my land
I
N just over a month, Nigerians will be going to the polls to elect a new president. Even though the stakes are quite high it does not look like a presidential election is around the corner. The campaign period seems all too short. More so for President Goodluck Jonathan whose presidency seems to be running on oxygen for the few weeks left, with little room to manoeuvre to say nothing of convincing the alienated voter. Of course, those who can have been raising tens of billions of Naira through clearly disgusting means for his re-election, including donations from governors still owing workers’ salaries for upwards of three months. Yes, war chests obviously meant to buy votes and supports are being made with billions of Naira. But where are the campaigns in the actual sense of it? On what issues are these campaigns based beyond namecalling and abuses? It is for this and similar reasons that this forthcoming election seems to have sneaked on us all. This is in spite of the fact that the campaigns had been kicked off in not-so-subtle fashion by President Goodluck Jonathan long before he actually indicated that he would be standing for another term. As
the incumbent candidate, the odds were on his side to dictate the terms of the election. But with very little going for him by way of achievements; with many unanswered questions staring him in the face, his re-election strategies have all but collapsed under the weight of his failures. He would certainly need all the props that Naira could provide where his record in office has failed him. While it was clear that the APC candidate was interested in running against President Jonathan again, it was far from certain he would emerge his party’s candidate. Indeed, he was expected to have a hard time of it given the keen interest of other party members in the race. In this sense, therefore, President Jonathan was well ahead of Muhammadu Buhari in the race for Aso Villa post May 29 2015. The keen support of his transformational ambassadors, and others of their ilk who beat the road traversing different parts of the country, ensured Nigerians were mindful if not interested in his return to Abuja. As the sitting president, it was expected Goodluck Jonathan would run on the bill of his party
in spite of attempts by those who thought another term for him would amount to a third term. Their objection was based on the simple but unconvincing reason that he had taken the presidential oath on two previous occasions even while one of these was in circumstances he could not have helped. He was obliged despite stiff opposition to finish up the uncompleted term of President Umar Yar’Adua who had died in office. Perhaps for reason of the opposition to his seeking another term after Yar’Adua passed, the president delayed announcing his interest in the February 14 presidential contest. But if the president’s hedging tactic had some fooled and guessing his political plans, his body language and the rent-a-crowd-like support of his TAN friends loudly proclaimed his interest in the presidency. Thus, when he finally made the announcement to run by getting his friends to buy his nomination form, it elicited a mere yawn from
2014 was the year corruption took on a new name and walked on all fours. A year of falling oil prices that crashed the Naira beyond the speculative knowledge of socalled economic experts
Nigeria on the cusp of greatness By Alex Akpodiete
T
HIS writer has in the past five years always opined that Nigeria is a great nation endowed with extraordinary people and inexhaustible non-oil natural resources. As with anyone or person with a great destiny, there are great challenges. How those challenges are surmounted also determine the actualization of the destiny. We have entered 2015, and our collective destinies are in our hands. How we surmount our joint problems, will determine whether we achieve greatness or succumb to the doomsday prophets that believe we will disintegrate this year. Our biggest challenge is Boko Haram because without security, there can be no development. From a speech of Late Nelson Mandela, we know that a stronger Nigeria can emerge out of the current insurgency challenges. Talking about speeches, the following speech is an insight about how the Presidential candidates think. There are really only two major candidates for the Presidential election on February 14, 2015. Yes some mushroom parties are fielding candidates but the four major political parties have made their positions known. The ruling PDP, APGA and LP are supporting the incumbent Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, while APC, a merger of three parties (), is fielding former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd). Whether GEJ or GMB wins the election, it is beyond cavil that they will rule differently. Over 31 years ago, the APC flag-bearer (then 41 years old and now 72 years old), said the following: “There is ample evidence that rigging and thuggery were relative to the resources available to the parties. This conclusively proved to us that the parties have not developed confidence in the presidential system of government on which the nation
C M Y K
invested so much material and human resources. While corruption and indiscipline have been associated with our state of underdevelopment, these two evils in our body politics have attained unprecedented height in the past few years. The corrupt, inept and insensitive leadership in the last four years has been the source of immorality and impropriety in our society. Since what happens in any society is largely a reflection of the leadership of that society, we deplore corruption in all its facets. This government will not tolerate kick-backs, inflation of contracts and over-invoicing of imports etc. Nor will it condone forgery, fraud, embezzlement, misuse and abuse of office and illegal dealings in foreign exchange and smuggling. Arson has been used to cover up fraudulent acts in public institutions. I am referring to the fire incidents that gutted the P&T buildings in Lagos, the Anambra State Broadcasting Corporation, the Republic Building at Marina, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Capital Development Authority Accounts at Abuja and the NET Building. Most of these fire incidents occurred at a time when Nigerians were being apprehensive of the frequency of fraud scandals and the government incapacity to
Some youths have wondered why there is a contest between a septuagenarian and a younger one who has passed his golden years. They wonder when it will be their turn to rule
many who knew where he was headed all along. The greater interest was in who the opposition party would field against him, and even more, in the preferred running mate. That interest was given greater animus after the former military head of state went for a relatively unknown Yemi Osinbajo, a Christian from the South-west. This was contrary to the expectation that he would pick a muslim even if from the Southwest. The choice of a muslim as his running mate was eagerly desired in PDP circle. This would make his presidential ambition dead on arrival as it would have been the plank on which the PDP would launch its campaign against Buhari’s suitability for the office of president. That he did not go for the bait has terribly upset the electoral plans of President Jonathan. A clear indication that his campaign was surely intended to be based on issues no more better defined than the ethnicity, religious inclination and, now, educational attainments of his opponent. Little, if anything, on the record of his own achievement or lack of it while in office. With the applecart of the reelection plans of the ruling party candidate’s virtually turned over; with the opposition waxing stronger and the electorate yearning for a change in their material condition, the temptations are indeed high for party stalwarts to employ extralegal means to win. With the limited time available, any such manipulation is likely to be incompetently done. If and when this happens, the consequences are not likely to be pleasant. And this is why I pray and urge you, my reader, to join in the prayer for our dear country, that the next election would be fraud free.
deal with them. Corruption has become so pervasive and intractable that a whole ministry has been created to stem it..” Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, first speech of Dec 31, 1983, after deposing the civilian government of Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Of course, Boko Haram is a war, and a warning. One can digest the speech and deduce various opinions from it, especially since the General once stated that he does not believe in democracy. In his January 1, 2015 address to the nation, this is what President Goodluck Jonathan (now 57 years old, but a young 26 year old graduate at the time his opponent was ruling Nigeria), said to the nation: “The elections are very important for us as a country. Their successful conclusion will further strengthen our democratic institutions and place our beloved country even more firmly in the comity of truly democratic nations. Given the challenges that have characterized some previous electoral contests in our country, the eyes of the world will certainly be on the conduct and outcome of our fifth post-military rule general elections. I reassure all Nigerians and the international community of our firm commitment to free, fair and credible elections. My commitment to free elections and one man, one vote remains unwavering. Our administration has worked hard in previous elections to prepare all key stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the electorate optimally, to ensure a progressively improved electoral process in the country under my watch. We will continue to do so for the coming elections. We will continue to provide adequate funding to INEC and maintain the Commission’s independence and isolate it from any form of interference or meddling in its day-to-day affairs. This shall continue to guarantee its impartiality and ability to conduct more credible and acceptable elections. National security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the elections are peaceful and violence-free. The Nigeria
Anything contrary to this will not be in the interest of this country. Let the cowards and expired militants, their would-be protégés and hangers-on, sounding war drums learn from history and go quench their blood-thirst with peaceful occupations. War diminishes both the winner and the victor. But an unjust war diminishes the loser even more. If they fail to realise this, they and their household should put on their dancing shoes and be ready to dance to their own war chorus. The fate of the defeated awaits all who have brought Nigeria to this sorry pass. The year 2014 must rank as one of the worst for us as a nation. It was the year of insurgency, when marauding bands sent thousands of Nigerians to their grave in cold blood. Except for the years of the Civil War, it was the year the highest number of Nigerians became destitute as internally displaced persons in their own country. 2014 was the year corruption took on a new name and walked on all fours. A year of falling oil prices that crashed the Naira beyond the speculative knowledge of so-called economic experts, World Bank and IMF gurus, and past masters at coordinating economic woes. It was a year of impunity when warlords became keepers of our waterways and robber guarded the vaults. Although a year of great testimony for individual lives, 2014 was a calamitous journey for the largest black nation on our planet. It was the year when two-thirds of workers in the nation’s thirty six states were owed several months salaries and celebrated both the Christmas and New Year holidays in debt. But we shall reclaim our country from the pest. And no more shall the children of butchers feed on mere bones. May 2015 be the happiest yet for our land.
Police has already established an Elections Security Planning and Monitoring Unit. I am optimistic that with the cooperation of all law-abiding citizens of the country, our commitment to have a peaceful and violencefree election will be actualized. I will like to say this, once again, to my fellow politicians and political leaders. None of our political ambitions is worth the blood of any of our countrymen, women and children. The improvement of their lives and living conditions ought to be our primary motive and the driving force of our quest for political power and leadership positions. Let us not promote sectionalism, disunity, intolerance, hate, falsehood or the malicious abuse of political opponents. Whatever we feel or seek, we must have a nation and a people before we can dream of political ambitions. Let us put the nation and the people first. Let us all conduct our electoral campaigns with the highest possible decorum and civility towards political opponents. Let us give INEC the fullest possible support and cooperation it requires to conduct credible and violencefree elections in 2015. After the 2011 general elections, some unpatriotic elements embarked on an orgy of violence, resulting in the destruction of lives and property. That will not be allowed to happen this time around. This government will act decisively against anyone who disrupts the public peace, before, during or after the 2015 general elections. All Nigerians, of voting age, are free to vote based on their convictions. It is our duty to defend and protect that basic right, and let no one be in doubt, we will.” Some youths have wondered why there is a contest between a septuagenarian and a younger one who has passed his golden years. They wonder when it will be their turn to rule. We are truly on the cusp of greatness. The world will judge of critically based on the outcome of the elections and our collective response.
•Prof. Akpodiete, a public affairs analyst, wrote from Asaba, Delta State.