It is exactly six weeks to May 29 today. Six weeks to the end of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s six year presidency. This, as traditions go all over the world, is called the transition period and it is a most difficult period to manage—for the incumbent, the incoming and the nation.
It is a period of two Presidents, yet one presidency. The nation is in limbo with everything from businesses to lifestyles, slowing to a crawl. All the people can do at this time is to observe and follow the body language of the two Presidents. The incoming is raring to go but knows he has to exercise a lot of restraint—unless he is cast in the mould of a Fayose.
Whatever he says or does at this point does not have the force of law but who reads the fine print especially in a third world country? Tradition requires him to speak to the nation and the outside world as he presents his vision but he has to be careful not to undermine the incumbent. But the sorriest picture is that of the incumbent. He is in power yet without any real power. A lame duck in every sense of the word.
Yet quack he must till the very end. This is the lot of every person of power whether in private or public, yet it is the one area people are prepared for. I have seen people when authority leaves them—it has even happened to me once or twice—and it is not usually a pretty sight. It is the period when you ride into the sunset; the bright sun is behind you and in your front, it is dusk or to be more blunt, darkness if not oblivion.
It is not easy to put oneself in the shoes of someone who is leaving power reluctantly because people are different and power affects people differently. But there is a groundswell of emotions when the reality dawns. A chess player looks at the board when he is checkmated and wonders which particular move or moves derailed him. So it is with a power player. Then there are the advisers who will urge for one more underhand move all to prolong the game and possibly force a stalemate.
I have watched President Jonathan closely since he conceded and I almost feel sorry for him. We are after all, ordinary men and women without the aura of power and our President looks very ordinary indeed these days. But he is game and I like that about him. A disarming smile is not far from his lips and I like that too. In a way the burden of governance is gone and with it, the weight of carrying a complex country on his shoulders. That must be a relief. He is done with the intrigues, the back stabbing and the betrayal of ‘friends’. That must also bring some relief.
In its place however, must be some regrets for opportunities wasted. It was obvious he was not prepared for the job despite being Deputy Governor, Governor, Vice President before becoming President. It was obvious, alas, that he couldn’t learn quickly on his feet. Like I said in an earlier article, he would have been a better President if he had secured a fresh mandate. But the people had had enough. I don’t know what his priority of regrets would be but two must be uppermost in his mind. His handling of Boko Haram and the Chibok girls must leave some sour taste in his mouth any time he thinks of it.
For a minority who has lived with marginalisation and suppression, his apathy to the suffering of his North-Eastern brethren was callous. But the biggest regret must be the handling of the problems of the Niger-Delta. He grew up in a typical Niger-Delta village and must have seen the degradation of the environment first hand. Six years in the saddle and you want to ask if he has left the place better than he met it.
Gas is still being flared unabated; pollution is pervasive both in the air and on their rivers; fishermen still cannot fish; unemployment and poverty, its twin brother, are rife in every village. Yes, he has made a few of his people multi-millionaires. But these are individuals and worse, selfish ones to boot. The rest of his people have had a President and a powerful petroleum minister for six long years and their lives have not been transformed in any significant or permanent way. It is an opportunity lost, perhaps forever. Finally, I have always felt stronger institutions favoured the South more because of its superior education and enterprise. But the Southern Presidents did nothing to strengthen the institutions of governance. Another opportunity lost.
As he packs his belongings for the ride into sunset, let him be guided by what belongs to him and what belongs to the State; what he truly needs and not what his fear of the unknown suggests. Six weeks is a short time for someone who has wielded power for six years. But it is still enough time to do some good and right some wrongs. He is going to have a lot of time in his hands now. Let him do some introspection and think of those decisions he had taken for the expediency of the moment but which he knows to be wrong and make amends. People he had denied appointments or opportunities by the sleight of hand can be reinstated.
Rule of law can take over the reign of impunity. More importantly, he can choose to shore up our foreign reserves or he can choose to deplete it. We hear that properties belonging to the State are being shared out and sold to favoured officials. This is not the way to go. Those he has favoured may thank him but the Nation will not and his legacy will be worse off for it. He should remember that he can still be useful to the Nation, the West African sub-region and the world as a whole. It may be sunset now but it does not have to be all dark and gloomy on the other side. After all, a full moon can be as bright as daylight and less harsh. It all depends on his perspective and how he applies himself.
Finally, I am sure he has decided by now on where he is likely to live. I hope he will be genuinely welcomed by his new neighbours. But one thing is certain; each time NEPA takes light or some unemployed youths go on a rampage, he is going to feel a sense of failure because energy and security were problems—along with some others—he promised to solve. I wish him well.
VANGUARD
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