PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND NIGERIANS: A CAUSE FOR US ALL TO THINK

PRESIDENT JONATHAN AND NIGERIANS: A CAUSE FOR US ALL TO THINK

Chijioke Akusoronwa

The last forty eight hours, between June 2nd and 3rd, 2012, for Nigerians have been traumatic but the solutions seem to be the only way, we all should look at rather than apportioning blames on one single person, the President of Nigeria. I am writing this article, for us all as Nigerians to see and question some individuals especially some Nigerians who fail to do their responsibilities only to give in to accusing and abusing someone who has delegated responsibilities to other bodies which were also held by Nigerians.

I want also say that “DEMOCRACY” has to do with “INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY” and not like parliamentary system where the collective responsibility seems to rule. Why am I saying this? I am saying this because; in democracy people are elected in different areas; Federal, State and Local government these tiers and bodies of government have different responsibilities and so do individuals who form parts of the government directly and indirectly in the protection of the day to day affairs of the state.

The five incidents within the last forty-eight hours namely: Tanker trailer on Saturday that caused the destruction of twenty-four vehicles at Danko village on the Lagos/Ibadan expressway; a Nigerian plane in Ghana that crash landed killing at least ten persons; another petro tanker that fell on the road along the same Danko village on the Lagos/Ibadan expressway and claimed injuries of persons and destruction of twenty-five vehicles;   a suicide bomb attack on a church in Bauchi, Northern Nigeria, that claimed the lives of at least twelve persons; and a plane belonging to Dana Airlines which crashed landed at Iju-Ishaga in Lagos, Nigeria, claiming the non-survival of one hundred and fifty-three Nigerians on board and at least ten more around the area with four reported seriously injured is really seeking answers.

For those who are raining curses and blames on one single individual please, permit me to ask these simple questions. From the tanker driver fuel accidents: Is it “ONLY” Jonathan that was supposed to ensure that the petro tanker driver park or drive with all safety measures? The crash in Ghana and in Nigeria: Is it “ONLY” Jonathan that is supposed to ensure both planes leave in good conditions before leaving Nigeria to Ghana or departing Abuja to Lagos? The crash from Abuja to Lagos, Dana Plane, in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos: Is it “ONLY” Jonathan that should ensure that the runway is good when people are paid to do the job; all repairs; safety and aviation laws is adhered to the least? The bombing in Bauchi: Is “ONLY” Jonathan the cause of the bombing or that told them to kill the Nigerians he governs? The simple answer to all these questions is, “THERE IS A SYSTEMIC FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTIONS AND THE PEOPLE (YOU AND I)”.

On the tank driver, the road is bad, I agree and I have sincerely not visited where the incident happened.  But, the questions are: Is the driver careful enough? Does he share the fact that he can make a save use of the road instead of claiming to be the “KING OF THE ROAD”. Do the inspectors of the petrol tank drivers’ trailer, at the point of fuel collection not able to see how unfit the petro tanker vehicle was before leaving with that large quantity of highly inflammable product? Why can’t those officials on the roads stop the tanker driver from proceeding if discovered harmful? Even at the incident point, how efficient are those in charge of these safety and rescue issues.

On the Ghana and in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos, Nigeria, plane crash. Aren’t there people paid to look after the safety of aviation issues or are they not Nigerians like you and I? Don’t you think we have numerous nonfunctional bodies: Federal Ministry of Aviation, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other this and that bodies that oversee the functionality of the air transport system in Nigeria? Do anyone want to tell me that they didn’t go to work on that day? Even if they fail to do their works, the pilots, crews and engineers that goes with the plane aren’t they also supposed to bear in mind the worth of their lives giving the prior information about the plane?  Don’t you think among the engineers that checks the worthiness of the plane aren’t there Nigerians among them?

On the issue of boko haram: Was it still Jonathan that sent them to kill those he was supposed to protect? Do you think he is happy seeing things go this way? All these are bugging question that the government, institutions and we, Nigerians in our little ways are expected to protect not only apportioning blames to government every time and in everything.

I want to let us know something today, for those who seem to blame the Jonathan government on all issues that we ourselves are the major causes of most little things that forms the big story of our today country, Nigeria.

I am saying this based on the experiences I have gathered in my little so to say knowledge. The fact is that in most countries today, individual are the archetype of the protection and security of their homes, communities, country and the world at large in the ways they want it. Why? When one is given a job to do and he or she neglects to do the job or do it only for the monetary reward or corrupt reasons he/she is directly a destroyer of the polity.

The next question is: How? The Nigerian Pledge reads:

I pledge to NIGERIA MY COUNTRY

To be FAITHFUL, LOYAL AND HONEST

To SERVE NIGERIA WITH ALL MY STRENGTH

To DEFEND OUR UNITY

And UPHOLD HER HONOUR and GLORY

SO, help me GOD.

These words are not only said by the president they were also said by “YOU” and “I” and if the bold words in this pledge above is just said without showing it. It in turn means, that we ourselves are also contributors to the destruction of the country, Nigeria, directly or indirectly if we fail in our primary allegiance to our dear country, Nigeria.

I want to share an experience in my few months in the United States. There are three (3) words I hear often every day, every time in my work environment. The three words I hear whether it is your job or not and you discover that something is wrong, you hear;

1.     Fix it

2.    It’s my job

3.    Good job

It simply means, that even, if you are not the manager or it’s not your function and the manager function or someone else job is discovered omitted by oversight, what you, as an individual need to do is to tell the manager or the person and fix it; and by that time of discovery, it becomes your job; and by fixing it, results to a good job. This may sound stupid but it works.

Theodore Roosevelt once said in his speech in Paris at the Sorbonne in 1910:

It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belong to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows achievement and who at the worst if he fails at least fails while daring great so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

After reading- comments of past warnings; listening- to speeches and tone of the causes; and sharing- with friends in Nigeria and here in the States, am sorry to say to Nigerians and the world at large that personally, I feel the blame is a “Systemic Failure” on the part of the government, institutions and Nigerians (You and I). So, blames and curses should please be refrained away from only the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as hoped by most Nigerians.

After the President speech, I noticed a deep relief and quietness on the part of most Nigerians; he cried and said in a short comment of his:

We have been working very hard to improve aviation in this country... This particular incident is a major setback for us … I will make sure that this will not repeat itself in the country. ” Though it's a pity that people have to die before the needed intervention comes to the aviation sector, we should all stop the criticism of government and look at the culprits who were the remote cause of the problem. The management of the airline chose money over the lives of their passengers. If those guys escape the law, they will not escape the judgement of God and their conscience.

Finally, I am also deeply grieved by the death of so many Nigerians and beg every Nigerian to take a new course and a new approach in every duty or position we find ourselves. This is because, like the popular Nigerian proverb: A thrown stone in a market place might be hitting someone related to you…who knows.

I leave you with the words of Jose Marti:

All the glory of the world can be contained within a single ear of corn, and there is no greater reward than to fulfill one’s duty.

CHIJIOKE writes from the United States. He holds a professional certification in Management and a first degree in Political Science and one of the best graduating students in the said discipline from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. As the Principal/Head Consultant, Heroesplus Consultant based in Lagos, Nigeria.  His interest in research and development made him a social blogger, political adviser, public speaker and a prolific biographer. Among his works includes: A Conscious Africa People of Change Long Desired: Critical Look at African Today’s Politics in the Year 2011; Our Security and Our Nigeria: The Problems and the Solutions; 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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