On May 29, 2012, which was last Tuesday, as Nigeria celebrated her Democracy Day after 13 years of PDP leadership at the centre, I had to on my car Radio to listen to President Goodluck Jonathan’s broadcast, because for over three years now, there is no Electricity where I live in Owerri. And whenever it comes, the power is too low to power the lowest bulb in the house.
This is after one year Jonathan told Nigerians that within ten months of his administration, there would be steady power supply inNigeria.
If we add the remaining two years of Yaradua’s administration, which Jonathan completed, it shows that he has already spent three years on the saddle. But if we must tell ourselves the truth,Nigeriais rather getting more rotten every passing day.
As the elites get richer, the masses get poorer. While the elites relish living in splendor like kings, with all things found, including billions of Naira stashed in Banks, but the demands of the poor masses are not much.
What do they want? Simple! Good road, steady electricity supply, water, security, good health delivery and quality education for their children. And if the leaders are “Magnanimous” enough, they can provide them with housing.
So, when we look at the Jonathan presidency these past three years, it is not difficult to decipher if these people – oriented amenities have been provided for the teeming masses ofNigeria.
If we should judge the government based on the provision of these basic facilities, it means that nothing is working in the country. This is because the security of the country has collapsed on the foot of Boko Haram, who kill ordinary Nigerians as if they are fowls.
Nearly every road acrossNigeriais a death trap. The dangerous state of these roads have quickened the death of many Nigerians, including our youths, as about 18 Youth Corpers died the other day in a ghastly motor accident on their way to the orientation camp.
Many companies have leftNigeriafor other neighboring countries that have conducive environment because of lack of electricity here. Subsequent administrations have made steady electric supply inNigerialook like Rocket science, whenGhanahas steady electricity for an uninterrupted twelve years now.
Since after Shehu Shagari’s era, I have never heard or seen housing estates meant for the people ofNigeria. The only available ones are the type you see at Maitaima Abuja, for the politicians who steal our oil money.
Ordinary water, which United Nations say should be compulsory and at the reach of all citizens of the world, is as scarce as gold to the common man inNigeria. When individuals use about N300,000 (three hundred thousand naira) to supply themselves water through private boreholes in their houses, if Government dig such borehole, it will claim five million Naira (N5m). Yet, there is no drinking water for over 85% of Nigerians.
There is no need talking about the health sector. How many families can afford high cost of private hospitals? A Youth Corper, Mr Daniel Oluwatobilola, who was on his way to orientation camp, had an accident, while his other 16 colleagues perished in that incident; he has since been abandoned by the Federal Government, who gave him invitation to proceed to Damaturu, Yobe state. If one on national assignment, with all the required papers could be so abandoned by those who sent him on the errand, what about you and I, common citizens?
Has public school system not collapsed inNigeria? How many people today have their children in public schools? Parents would have loved to send their children to public schools, but they can’t because the system has gone dead. You can’t compare public schools with private schools. Did Awolowo, Azikiwe, Ahmadu Bello, Herbert Macaulay, Aminu Kano, Akanu Ibiam etc attend private schools? Did Jonathan, Babangida, Abacha, Ekwueme, Shenakan and others attend private schools? Did all these Ministers and other top Government functionaries of today attend private schools?
Private schools simply quarantines our children like prisoners, in paved compounds without sporting facilities and other amenities. How can our children be said to be having adequate and complete education in these highly paid private schools, when some of them have not touched sands before. They don’t know names of birds or trees first hand, as we were taught during our own time.
Do they do “home work today?” what they call home work today is assignments on paper. During our time “Home work” was making of baskets, brooms, calabash, carving of woods etc.
Do our children know how to make manure as we did those days? During our time, you own your own farm in the school and is expected to harvest what you planted at the close of the “term”. It does not matter if your father or mother is the Headmaster / Headmistress.
Today, our children use money to pay for their “Home work” as if they are doing any body, but themselves. The bad situation inNigeriahas reduced many citizens, that is those who can afford it, to mini – countries of their own.
You provide you own water with a private borehole. You provide your own security with your gateman and dogs with God and prayers. You own your generators to supply yourself power with N91, per liter of fuel.
The house you live in, you managed to build. You maintain the road in your area with the neighborhood association. Your children are in private schools. So what then is the responsibility of Government, and what is its contribution to your life as a citizen?
This scenario reduces Nigerians to resign their fate in God, and give no damn of what happens in government, and those in charge, thinking the people have “Dashed” them the common wealth, cart the loot home to their private tillers. No wonder nothing happens in the land.
But very unfortunately, under this ugly scenario, many people are pushing for President Goodluck Jonathan’s second shot at the presidency in 2015.
I strongly believe that the basis for giving any politician a second chance in 2015, including the President, is performance.
I read Asari Dokubo, the Niger Delta Militant War lord saying “We will defend Jonathan with our blood”. I strongly believe him, but that is if Jonathan does well before 2015, and a section of the country says it would not allow that, even after he had performed well. But not if things remain like this, till 2015.
Nigerians have learnt enough since 13 years the current democratic dispensation came into being. Suffer has united Nigerians. They have been so used that their eyes “don clear”. I prefer my enemy to lead me and provide me good things of life, including protecting my life, than my father to lead me and furnish me with snakes and scorpions.
The easiest way to “Somalise”Nigeriais for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to assume that it must ruleNigeriafor ever, with mediocre performance, and try to impose candidates on Nigerians. That was what Buhari meant when he said “Both the monkey and baboon would soak in blood” if there was rigging. Rigging is evil and the people should be allowed to pick those who lead them, whether they are blind, deaf or dump. That is democracy.
If Jonathan wants our vote in 2015, he should start work immediately. Time is running off.
Coming back home to Imo state. WhileAbujahas been on fire on whether Jonathan will run again or not in 2015, Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has not told us any thing of sort. Although during his campaign he said he would stay for one term, but I see it as a statement for that time situation has since changed.
The reason Owelle said he would spend just one term in “Rescuing Imo” was that he hoped he would head toAbujato try his hand again at the presidency, after the first attempt when he came second to Yaradua, during the PDP Presidential primaries.
But looking at the power game playing out now inAbuja, the 2015 Presidency will be dicey. Because of the level of heat already being generated, Ndigbo are yet to show any sign that they would join the fray, much more an individual.
Already, the scheming within the PDP alone is frightening. The 18 Northern Governors say they are supporting a candidate in 2015 who will “developNigeria”, which is a tacit vote of no confidence on Jonathan by these Northern Governors.
Buhari had said that “Both Monkey and Boboon will soak in blood” if there were rigging. PDP and the Presidency railed against the former Head of State. But the Northern Governors rose to support him, saying there was nothing wrong with his statement, except if PDP wants to rig. Haba! What a contradiction with in a party!
Then, Chief Edwin Clerk, Asari Dokubo and other Ijaw leaders are threatening to burn down the house if any body or group frustrates their brothers’ ambition.
Pray, is it under this hail stone that our own Owelle Rochas Okorocha would contemplate vying for the Presidency? And under which party? Is it APGA? No regional political party can win Nigerian Presidency, except under a merger.
Therefore, I see Owelle, after considering the unfolding scenario deciding to hold unto the one already at reach, which is the Imo Governorship seat come 2015.
The question now is will Imo people vote for Okorocha again? It depends. Assuming the elections were to take place toady, Okorocha would fail woefully. He has, as usual with innovators, like his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim, incurred the wrath of Imo populace, especially the working class, in his bid to pilot the affairs of the state in the right direction, which the outsiders like the labour, are not in the position to see, than him that is on the driving seat. Burden of leadership! But since there are still three years ahead, Okorocha is a lucky man and therefore has ample time to smoothen the rough edges. But it all depends on the direction he wants his administration to head.
As I write this piece, the work force of the Imo State Civil Service has embarked on strike, which has crippled the economy of the state, since Imo is a Civil Service state.
Come 2015, the race, as is usual with Imo, will still remain unpredictable as ever. Okorocha’s emergence in 2011, as governor ofImoStatehas destroyed the zoning formula, and I foreseen a situation where the race will be for all – comers this time around.
While the Imo PDP will strive as much as possible to “capture” power again in the State, the issue within the party will be which zone that would produce the candidate. And in all indications, Owerri Zone, by right would want to do that, and Orlu elements in the party, with their quest for power, would also try to tope doe the arrangement, and this will play into the hands of Okorocha, that is if he still remains in APGA then.
However, no matter the situation, Okorocha needs to work hard, because the scenario may still require him to present his score card, since his opponents would not have anything to present to the masses except their oratory and propaganda. This was what Ohakim faced against Okorocha and others in 2011. But should the opponents adopt Okorocha’s methodology, which he used against Ohakim, he then has an uphill task. A very big hurdle to scale.
Okorocha, as a man attacking a glass house from outside in 2011 had no rules. He attacked with sand, rubber bullets, mud, stone, water, dust, breeze, grass, whatever was at reach and it paid in the end for him.
Now, the Barber’s chair has rotated, and Okorocha is on the spot and at the receiving end. Therefore, in 2015, it would be his twin to receive the kind of barrage of attacks he unleashed on his predecessor. In all these, however, Okorocha can still shut up every body’s mouth with quality development of the state. It does not take much to please Nigerian masses, because their demands are just few.
Water, Health, Roads, Security, Power, Eductaion, Agriculture, Housing and Employment. All these are feasible. Delivering half of it is even enough for the people just as leaders like Mbakwe engraved themselves in the Hearts of the people. . Okorocha still has more three more years to go and can do it, or what do you think?
