Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, the sitting Nigerian President is no doubt the most troubled Nigerian and the first incumbent leader of Africa’s most populous nation not sure of his reelection. Not even late Gen. Sani Abacha was this disorganized when he sought to transform from a military dictator to a civilian ruler. President Obasanjo had the chance of even seeking a third term in office even when the Nigerian Constitution does not permit that.
The man who has had an easy sail to power from his school days as a school prefect to his enthrone enemy as president in 2011 is now battling to defeat a former military dictator, Gen. Buhari, rtd, who has now become born again, courtesy of the likes of Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State. Before now, for Jonathan to ascend, someone must go down. Alamieyeseigha, his boss and political mentor had to go down for him to become governor of Bayelsa State. Peter Odili had to go down as the preferred vice presidential candidate of the PDP in 2007 for Jonathan to get the ticket. And a day to my birthday in 2010, his last boss, late President Umaru Musa Yaradua had to die for Jonathan to become the President on my birthday. It was meant to be the best birthday gift for me, but it looks like I have no reason to celebrate on May 6, except…
Now, let’s get down to this week’s business. Jonathan seems to have run out of the dose of Goodluck he had always enjoyed as he struggles now to win a reelection, if the election ever holds on March 28. I wonder why he is doing all the things he never did in the past to win. His wife was not the determinant factor in all his feats, at least not to the public glare. Yesterday, GEJ as he is known, never used his wife as his chief campaigner. Today, she seems to be the Director General of the PDP campaign organization. Mrs.Goodluck Jonathan senior has thrown all caution to the wind in her bid to canvass for a stone-throwing campaign against every opponent of her husband. At some point, she was said to have even slapped Gov. Akpabio over suspicions that Akpabio was plotting to vie as a running mate to a northern candidate. So, Gov. Amaechi was even luckier. Her altercation with Amaechi resulted to a strained relationship between two brothers who are now engaged in rivalry.
It was Jonathan’s wish for Amaechi to take over the reins of leadership as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum when the tenure of Bukola Saraki expired. At least, his close political ally would help to cover his nakedness.
But the President could not control the excesses of his wife and that gave birth to a cancerous problem between the presidency and the Rivers Government. Before the 2011 elections, there was a political reconciliation since Jonathan needed Amaechi to deliver the huge votes of his state considering that Bayelsa has only 500,000 registered voters. That was wisdom! There was reward for labour as Jonathan ignored Chief E.K. Clark’s pleas to nominate a Minister from Delta State as the Junior Minister for the South South geopolitical zone. The President gave it to Amaechi for his immense and unconditional contributions towards the his election. And so came Nyesom Wike, my friend, as the junior Minister, Amaechi’s nominee.
He was the Chief political aide to Amaechi and knew the governor’s strengths and weaknesses. It was Wike who had the opportunity of hearing Amaechi describe Jonathan as anti-Rivers in his moment of rage during exco and non-executive discussions. Nyesom was the ambitious aide who knew the importance of power. In less than no time, he switched his loyalty to the President. He declared that there was no brotherhood or oneness with an Ikwerre brother as both Amaechi and himself are from the Ikwerre ethnic group. For him, at that time, there was no need sticking to a man who no longer had anything to offer. The contracts were gone, no more juicy appointments, wifey has been made s Judge, has no control over EFCC and Police. So, he moved on to become the eye of Jonathan in Rivers State. There was no use believing in Amaechi after all, if Obi can drive, John can drive also!
The battle for control of Rivers politics finally exposed the weakness and gullibility of the president. Both Amaechi amd Wike took each other to the cleaners, exposing secret deals done when the going was good. But wait a minute here, was there really anything NEW with what Amaechi had to say about his former Chief of Staff and man Friday? I do not think so! Apparently, the governor was the only one who was shocked at the volume of wealth owned and controlled by his former aide. Its no news! The only thing new in Amaechi’s outbursts is that he was betrayed by the man he trusted most since 2007. But that is also not news to those who know better. What Amaechi did not know was that he was too carefree with power. In his bid to demystify governance and make it unattractive, he simply created room for some ambitious people.
Wike would not bat an eye lid in his NEW resolve to gain the confidence of the first family. And just like it is said, the best way to a man’s heart is through his wife, the man with native intelligence moved swiftly to ‘buy’ madam.
Now, the President seeks reelection and there is no room for reconciliation between him and Amaechi as it was in 2011. Maybe as a result of ego, Amaechi was not willing either to regain the president’s confidence and friendship. He joined the opposition party, APC. At least, now some of those who criticised me in 2011 for leaving PDP to contest the election under PPA in Abia state now no better.
Jonathan was made to believe that they can easily deliver him at the polls. He failed to do the needful. The president believed in his advisers rather than allow basic instinct to teach him the game. They misled him. Amaechi has not stopped in openly criticizing the president, pointing out his failures. It was so bad that even Senator MC Cain of US joined in the bashing of my president.
The poor handling of the kidnap of about 273 girls from Chibok gave the world the leverage to publicly criticise Jonathan as clueless and inept. Chai!!! His average performance as president has been reduced to nothing even as the president himself admitted that his government had done nothing for Rivers people and the people of the Niger Delta.
Everyday, he is being criticized in the social media by teeming unemployed youths. The more he tries to wriggle out of problems, the more he commits blunder. They say, “those who are with you are more than those who are against you”. A conglomerate of the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode, Doyin Okupe, Reuben Abati and Madam First Lady definitely do not mean you have more people on your side.
His struggle to win again has further reduced him to becoming a pun on the chessboard of business men pastors. The traditional institution like the Oba of Ife have come again. They have forgotten what they did to Odili with their initiation into ‘the source’. Joseph Yobo and Kanu Nwankwo have now become his best friends as if it was not the collective efforts of Nigerians to crown them. Our nollywood stars have joined the fray as of we don’t all contribute towards their success. No wahala!
The worst is the mockery in making GEJ and his wife lovers of sports! Is that all the Minister for Sports can offer us after our inability to play at the African Cup of Nations? Chaii!!!
In all, the president has been stripped naked! Unfortunately, with or without the Army and the militants, he can never secure a 100 per cent win again in Rivers state.
We are told that the Jews who stripped and crucified Jesus were his worst enemies. But I beg to disagree, because Jesus had earlier placed a curse on Judas as the man who would expose him to danger.
Who here now is the President’s worst enemy? Is it Gov. Amaechi who has remained unrepentant in his criticisms or Nyeso Wike who exposed the President to these critics?
For Jonathan, his real enemies are those who for their selfish reasons destroyed his relationship with Amaechi. If Jonathan loses at the polls, is it likely that he will throw his weight behind his party’s candidate, Nyesom Wike?
Those who know him say he is vindictive. Anyway, in this case, I will not blame him if he decides to stop the man who stopped him. Chikena!
Oby Ndukwe writes from Portharcourt
