Goodluck Jonathan: A dog destined for destruction would never heed the hunter’s horn, by Kola Amzat

At the commencement of 4th Republic, ex-president, Goodluck Jonathan was an obscure politician as deputy governor of Bayelsa state, operating under the shadow of late Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was the governor.

Suddenly, he found himself as governor of the state upon the removal of Alamieyeseigha by the Bayelsa State of Assembly after the governor was charged with money laundering in the United Kingdom.

Shortly after, providence was at work as he ascended to the office of Vice president in Abuja.

Providence hadn’t finished with him. His principal, the late president Umar Yar’dua terminal disease re-occurred, and death came calling.

In a twist of fate, Goodluck Jonathan suddenly found himself as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, completing the remaining two years of Yar’Adua tenure.

Meanwhile, he was lucky for the umpteenth time as he won election in 2011 to commence his own tenure as President, Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.   

Throughout Goodluck Jonathan tenure, he severally got knocks on every issue ranging from security, conflicts, governance, infrastructures and the opposition which threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable and also made good their threat, threatening to form a parallel government should Jonathan win 2015 presidential election.

Indeed, Goodluck Jonathan administration was judged by the generality of Nigerians as the weakest and most challenged in the history of the country, marked by sheer incompetence in governance, wasteful spending during oil boom times, and a gross failure to save for the future.

Under his watch, billions of petrodollars were recklessly squandered, with little to show in infrastructural developments, as well as improvement in the lives of generality of Nigerians.     .

During his time, it was apparent that the ex-president ceded the mantle of leadership to a couple of his ministers, with specific reference to Diezani Allison-Madueke who looted the country treasury with so much impunity, and Mike Aondoakaa, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice who got embroiled in billions of dollar Malabu oil scandal.   

There were staggering PR gaffes during this inglorious era.             

His government was characterized by a wave of cold-blooded murder by Boko Haram Islamic militants that was still holding almost 300 school girls after several years that he had vacated.

There wasn’t any shred of doubt that the territorial integrity of the country under Jonathan watch was seriously threatened.

Some few months before 2015 presidential elections, it was obvious that curtains would surely be drawn on that better forgotten administration.

That exactly what happened as Goodluck Jonathan was swept away from the office of the president by the then 14 months old All Progressive Congress Party, with late president, Muhammud Buhari as the presidential flag bearer, and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as brainbox, engine room, think-tank  and one of the major financiers.

With late president, Muhammud Buhari ascendance to the presidency, the Otuoke born former president withdrew into private life.

Thereafter, he got back into the limelight as he was appointed by UN Secretary-General as Special Envoy on Crisis Management    

These days, he is trying to enjoy a quiet retirement with an occasional foray into diplomacy and local politics.

He also created a surprising new future for himself. Since his concession, the former president is experiencing something of a renaissance as a senior statesman, at least in certain circles.

He has been honored with international awards and invited to deliver keynote remarks at global conferences on everything from peace-building to improving educational opportunities.

He is particularly sought-after as a champion of democracy, and recently led an international election team of observers for the National Democratic Institute in Liberia and the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in South Africa.

His solemn tweets on respect for the rule of law in Ethiopia are widely covered in the press.

But the crux of this write-up is the unusual movement of the ex-president in the political space, suggesting that some few Nigerians are making spirited efforts to convince him to throw his hat in the presidential contest during the forthcoming 2027 polls.

At least, the former governor of Jigawa state has publicly endorsed him as the People Democratic Party’s candidate. Lamido, indeed urged the party to woo him for the contest.

Bala Mohammed, incumbent governor of Bauchi state has also spoken in the vein, endorsing the ex-president to contest for the plum job come 2027.

Some few days ago, the former president also visited ADC national chairman, David Mark and its top chieftains and the meeting was branded a consultative meeting.

If all movements of the former president are aimed at bidding for the presidency in 2027, then, there appears to be a problem somewhere, as he’s missing the point.  

There comes a time in life that one needs to take absolute control of one’s life and ambition, and practically avoid those who are hell-bent in pushing one onto the moving train.

The ex-president is busy listening to the voice of the market and, ultimately, he would be the worst for it.

Maybe he’s oblivious of the fact that Nigerians have not forgiven him for plunging the nation into avoidable chaos and disorderliness during his inglorious regime as president!

Maybe he’s not conscious of his stewardship of maladministration and sheer incompetence culminating in handing over the generality of Nigerians to be devoured by criminality—Boko Haram, insurgents, bandits, kidnappers, marauders!

He might have lost memory of several billion of petrodollars that were looted under his watch as president by his cronies and top party men!

He’s also forgotten that Nigeria escaped losing by whiskers, her territorial integrity!

When the time is ripe, this COMPENDIUM would be made available to him. 

Even at the best of times, when PDP was in absolute control of Niger Delta Region, his home base, he and the party were completely routed out of Aso Villa.  How much more now that APC has taken absolute control of Niger Delta Region, with the defection of all PDP governors to the ruling party.

In all other 5 Geo-political zones, APC is imperially dominating.

Where would Goodluck Jonathan start from?

The former governor and present governor routing for him have lost their political bases. Sule Lamido is now politically irrelevant in Jigawa state. Come 2027, Bala Muhammed would go into extinction in Bauchi state.

These are Goodluck Jonathan foot soldiers that are assuring him that all is well. They are mischief makers because they’ve refused to tell him the truth.

This writer therefore advises the former president that it’s good to remain a respected and honoured ex-president, rather than to be an object of ridicule, scorn and embarrassment at the polls.                

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.