GEJ: NIGERIANS AWAITS YOUR PROMISES

GEJ: NIGERIANS AWAITS YOUR PROMISES

Chijioke Akusoronwa

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ) after the April 16, 2011 election emerged as the presidential elect from the just concluded presidential battle and history in Nigerian politics. The election was overwhelming won by GEJ not because of his party but in what most Nigerians ascribe to his personality, leadership traits, vision, humility (especially his patience during the drama that transpired after the death of his boss Yar A’dua), and the trend of change most Nigerians are awaiting to see in a new breed of leaders especially in GEJ.

Although, after the election there were some pockets of conflicts in some northern parts of the country Nigeria, in an election believed to be the most peaceful and well-organized since the inception of democracy in Nigerian or since 1999. This then, puts the question on our politicians to understand that the politics of today Nigerian, has gone beyond what the individual politicians contesting election thinks: his/her party or his/her supporters but what the people believe in who they what to see control the affairs that directly or indirectly affects their future.

I do not know if I speak the mind of every Nigerian, but, I am of that belief that I say what every single concerned Nigerian speaks of her dear country, Nigeria. Now that GEJ has emerged as our President elect, Nigerians are concerned with the president that can solve our problems of 50 years of independent leadership. Among these problems to be solved are:

LEADERSHIP caused by lack of accountability and loss of patriotism. First, it is very important for GEJ to look at leadership which is the bane of our problem after our independence. Most of us have forgotten that we all must be good leaders in our respective offices. This is most exemplified in the Nigerian leaders with poor leadership traits since independence which has cost us these poor levels of development and unity, thus, forgetting that they are examples to followers and represents the body of government. Abraham Lincoln once said ‘‘the legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people, whatever they need to have done, but can not do, at all, or can not, so well do, for themselves – in their separate, and individual capacities.’’

HEALTH issues in our today Nigeria is ‘‘a no go area’’. This is because there are three achetype situations in Nigeria: one - (Rural) here, there are neither health facilities, workers nor English medicine in so many rural areas in Nigeria since independence; two - (Sub-urban) there are some few medical facilities, few medical personnels and few medicine at throat cutting cost while the other things not sufficient leaves one to travel several kilometres to get them even medical operation; three, (urban) here, there are let say, sufficient hospital, medical personnels and medicine but funny enough, the hospital are ill-equipped, medical personnels always on strike after months of warning strikes, and over-expensive drug. In all health issues in Nigeria, it is a place where even the Minister of Health, President name them, gets their common medical check-up abroad. Today, health problems have escalated with the problems of brain drain thus leading to increased mortality rate and reduction in life expectancy caused by lack of motivation for doctors and ill-equipped hospitals and facilities.

EDUCATION, the jewel of generation is dwindling. Nigerian education was once among the best in the world and a Nigerian pride, a place of total liberation, leveraging edge, scholars resort, and fulfilment of parents. While the universities, then, was a home for leaders, impact village, intellectual pursuit and final point of ‘‘think tanks’’ in Nigeria. Today, we live on lost glories as a result of been led by illiterates, visionless leaders: who went to schools with free books, free food, all levels of scholarships, no strikes and numerous jobs waiting for them after school. Students then that distinguished themselves in their academic prowess were also given all manners of scholarships to study at ‘‘any’’ place of their choice thus given a pride of place for hard work.  Yet, these people who enjoyed all these educational policies and facilities have now narrowed their vision with individualistic thinking and ‘‘pocket all for their next four generation’’ yet unborn. These decline are caused as a result of our so-called leaders by under-funding and over politicizing the educational sector: causing loss of interest, lack of research, cram based students, certificate based illiterates and poor education performances at all levels of educational ‘‘la cram la pure’’ with the aim of sending all their children and their dogs to foreign schools at alarming expenses.

The ECONOMY of Nigeria was once a pull factor for other economies. (Multi, 1804; Regional, 1946; Mono-economy, 1970). These dates might sound so funny, but let’s read on to see how true I have come about it. First, the reason behind the Jihad or the Holy War in 1804 was also because of the enormous wealth in the North. The Aba Women Riot in 1929 was also about wealth in the East and in the West most of the fights among the Yorubas were aimed at conquering more wealth and lands for farming and increasing homage paying from those conquered. It thus shows that Nigeria was so rich and could afford to pay anything for mirror, salt, and other things brought by the Portuguese, British and other foreigners even as early as in the 15th Century till the middle of the 20th Century. The coming in of the exploitative British economic policies was economically developmental even though it was aimed at cash crops driven policies for foreign exchange earning but it helped in putting in place infrastructures that aided regional economic development. The discovery of oil in Olobiri in 1946, ushered in the defined propensity for marked equality in regional wealth. With the help of Richards Constitution enshrining regional hopes, regionalism then becomes an economic tool in ensuring that each region increases her income through massive production for massive export for more foreign exchange thereby developing true fiscal federalism in practise. This continue until the issue of sharing policies began to set in which made some regions more lazy and hoping to always get something from the East (now some part called South-South) thus stagnating the already over exploited economy by the British. After the end of Nigeria civil war and the increase in oil price in the 1970’s, it looked as if our leaders have lost focus.

SOCIAL AND INFRASTRUCTURAL FACILITIES caused by corruption, improper award of contracts, inability of our leaders to finish a particular project before leaving offices thus using it as political campaign, policies inconsistency and lack of technical know-how.

POWER AND ENERGY caused by corruption and greed in this sector has placed the country on a ‘’no go investment area’’ causing massive unemployment, retrenchment, and low Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES have left over 60% of Nigerian youths especially her teeming graduates unemployed thus rendering this energetic large group of working population in a growing economy useless.

The issue of PREBENDAL POLITICS which is also known as godfatherism at all facet of political representation is poised with questions. One begins to wonder its original and how it has became, if not the only means, of getting the seat of power and other positions, thus, throwing merit into the thrash can of the idiots.

UNITY – Nepotism and ethnicity caused by the nature of our federal structures.

DEVELOPMENT – Caused by lack of initiative for selfish gains.

CORRUPTION – Legalization of kickback, in cash and in services which has and will continue to make the country stagnant, if no conscious serious efforts with serious policies and institutions are put place to eradicate it.

I want to say to you, GEJ, that you didn’t just emerge as the President of Nigeria but rather won the hearts of millions on Nigerian who left their home or travelled to places where they have registered to make sure that they cast their votes for you in order for you to see and solve these problems by taking a quantum leap in your 4-years or so leadership tenure.

The problems of leadership in Nigeria are enormous but finding the willing, spirit minded leaders - who would not only pay lip services but rather take the giant stride in making a difference is the solution.

That leadership is what Nigerians need from you, not because your name is Goodluck; from a majority or minority group; formally in government or not; in a popular party or not; rich or poor; small or big and whatever it is, that could limit you is what Nigerian do not want to hear. What Nigerians are interested in is: YOU MUST DELIVER AND MAKE NIGERIANS PROUD.

CHIJIOKE, holds a professional certification in Management and a first degree in Political Science and one of the best graduating student in the said discipline from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. He is passionate about providing the leading platform for bearing the burden for his clients’ zenith successes which is hinged at providing exceptional Consulting Services in the areas of paper writing, biographies, training, political advisory, public speaking, business development, product marketing and advert production all in a practical solution driven and goal oriented perspectives. As the Principal/Head Consultant, HeroesPlus Consultant based in Lagos, his interest in research and development made him a social blogger and a prolific biographer. Among his works includes: Celebrating Our Country In Doubt: A Question Begging Patriotic Answer; Challenging Your Dreams; Nigeria Sixth Republic: 50 Years Of Unfinished Leadership; 2011, April Ballot: Winners, Losers And The Nigerians Lesson, among others. He is a member of Civil Liberty Organization, Rotaract Club to mention a few.

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