I thank God that the D-Day or should that be E-Day? – has finally arrived, after months of toxic mud-slingings, comical episodes, tragic misfires, dramatic cross-carpetings, nail-biting suspense, fevered speculation and controversies galore.
Ever since the CPC, ACN, ANPP and an APGA faction merged two years ago to create the most viable and vibrant opposition party that Nigeria has ever produced, politically engaged persons on every rung of the socio-economic ladder – from villagers to international tycoons – have been perched on the edges of their seats, wondering how this colourful PDP Versus APC saga will end.
Now, at long last, closure is imminent.
Jonathan’s petulant rejection of the 2013 Governors’ Forum Chairmanship election results (when his candidate, Jonah Jang of Jos, was defeated by Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers) indicates that Jonathan is a very bad loser by nature.
However, despite rumours that Jonathan will enter into a pact with the army or try to establish an Interim National Government if things don’t go his way tomorrow, I don’t share the widespread view that he will throw a massive tantrum and do everything in his power to prevent Buhari from replacing him.
I could, of course, be wrong, but I am strongly suspecting that Jonathan will, despite his peevish track record, go fairly quietly if he loses the race.
Why?
Because a European journalist friend who has access to high-level foreign officials, tells me that: “If the British and Americans hadn’t pushed Jonathan to do the right thing, you guys wouldn’t be getting a chance to vote this weekend.”
And I could of course be wrong, but I believe that our Western allies will also persuade Jonathan to respect himself, respect the wishes of the majority and conduct himself like a gentleman if the eventual outcome doesn’t favour him.
Money, money, money!
Mr President has spent so much money on his election campaign. Even when I am browsing foreign websites, I come across “Vote For Jonathan” adverts.
Meanwhile, I’m hearing that some civil servants have not been paid for a while.
Isn’t it time to drastically reduce the amount of cash that incumbents can spend on electioneering?…and time to insist that they don’t spend our money.
Let me close today’s column with a letter from Paul Agbroko (agbroko@hotmail.com), a Vanguard reader.
Hi Donu,
I must say your frustration with our people of, is it South-South, or is it Niger Delta now, over the issue of supporting “our own” which means a continuation of much of the same, or wanting a better path for us all, is one that is shared by some of us as well. Going by the rot in the system and the failure of governance in all ramifications in the last 16 years of PDP misrule and especially in the last six years under the watch of one of our own, I would have thought that the minimum would be that we would all agree that change is desirable and in which case, it would be a fait accompli that Buhari’s APC forms the next government, post May, 2015.
But not so, think our people. For them, it is the sing-song of ethnicity, religion, perceived fear of dictatorship, or the paranoia of the civil war of almost 50 years ago! Difficult to believe, but this is the reality we face. And when you add to these, all the talk making the rounds about the underhand methods and utter desperation or what is referred to as “do or die”, you begin to wonder whether the sage Obafemi Awolowo truly saw tomorrow, when he said something to the effect in the dark days of the NPN and UPN, that we might not see democracy in our generation.
Let me not take it from you however, DK. Your courage and steadfastness is a beacon to the profession of journalism today. The dream of a better tomorrow must stay alive. Thank you Donu.
All I can add is “thank you Paul, for understanding where I am coming from and not regarding me as a traitor!”
Ditch all this do-or-die rubbish!
I don’t know why some folks insist on a nasty, desperate, do-or-die approach.
I know of friendships that have collapsed because of political rivalries. I know of relatives who are avoiding each other because they belong to different parties. And we’ve all personally witnessed – or heard about – the terrible electoral violence that is being sponsored by psychopathic grandees who think that they have a divine right to rule and are ready to hire and arm thugs.
My home state, Rivers, is particularly frightening at the moment. So many people have died this year. I attended a rally at which APC supporters were shot at last month. I often hear gunshots at night as rival factions tough it out for dominance. My security guard was beaten to death a fortnight ago.
I find it very sad that we bovinely tolerate the status quo and don’t challenge corrosive individuals who regard us as dross and think nothing of coercing, maiming and killing when they are seeking and trying to retain various positions.
And I keep wondering when decent Nigerians will develop the guts and self-esteem to flatly refuse to be led and destroyed by dangerous gangsters.
VANGUARD
END
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