Last Tuesday, President Goodluck Jonathan officially declared his intentions to seek reelection in the general elections slated for early next year. The declaration which came only a day after over fifty secondary school students were killed in a bomb blast incident in Potiskum, Yobe state, was greeted with mixed reactions. Whilst many saw it as a good action in the right directions believing he had performed wonderfully in the last six years, others believe the president has no record to show as to make Nigerians want him to come back.
In a true democratic setting, for a politician to contest any political office, they most have an excellent record of performance to justify their capability to deliver. Whilst for first time runners, their past work experience remains a reference point, for those seeking reelection it is their performance in the lapsing tenure. This is especially imperative given that for success, contestants most use all available means to convince and canvass for votes of electorates. Thus Mr. Jonathan’s record of performance is of significance here.
Frankly, most Nigerians are today suffering untold hardship courtesy of an unhealthy economy. The people are seriously in want and need. Abject poverty is what most Nigerians are in today. Whilst according to the indices of Finance Minister Okonjo-Iweala our economy is improving, practically, her words remain unbelievable. There was no way an economy will get healthier amidst inadequate electricity supply. Ditto, with the number of unemployed graduates increasing by the day, you are sure the minister wasn’t sincere.
Ever since he assumed power in May, 2010, Mr. Jonathan had shown very poor leadership qualities. And over the years, he proved beyond reasonable doubts a lame in administration that has no capacity to deliver. He allowed corruption, which is mortally dangerous to the entire human species, to become a prominent structure in the nation`s political and socio-economic landscapes. On the fault lines of religion, region and ethnicity, President Jonathan successfully polarized Nigeria and Nigerians cannot be more divided.
And whilst the future of a nation solely depends on its youths, Nigeria, under President Jonathan isn’t making any efforts at nurturing us. Education standard here has continued to helplessly drop with incessant strikes by lecturers of institutions of higher learning. Much the same, there is nothing to write home on President Jonathan’s efforts at improving Nigeria`s health system. Even in cities, standard healthcare services are hardly accessible let alone in rural communities.
In the last six years in short, Mr. Jonathan supervised this nation with mediocrity. As a result, his regime has failed to carry out even its primary responsibility of protecting the territorial integrity of Nigeria and ensuring the safety of lives and property of Nigerians. Under the watch of Mr. Jonathan, a part of Nigeria is now under the control of some faceless insurgents just as everyone in the rest parts of the country never sleeps with both eyes closed. And ever since all these started, the only action government has been taking to stop it was pointing accusing fingers at the opposition blaming it of sponsorship for political gains.
It had remained insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians who bear directly the consequences of this insurgency. While thousands a Nigerian have lost their dear lives in this, thousands more have been displaced. Thus another term for Mr. Jonathan means a continuation of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians by government authorities. Another term for Mr. Jonathan means continued decay of government infrastructures owing to a non-performing economy. Another term for Mr. Jonathan means another turbulent ride for Nigerians in the journey to 2019.
Jarmajo is on Twitter: @mukhtarjarmajo
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