2023: The Dr. Goodluck Jonathan Challenge

By S. O. K. Shillings Esq.

There is nothing weirder in this Nigerian political formula than the fact that former President Goodluck Jonathan is being persuaded to run for presidency again; and most weird, under the auspices of the opponent party.

He will be offered membership waiver. The constitutional amendment seemingly barring him cannot operate retrospectively; so, he is, in my humble view, legally qualified to contest. The only stumbling block is the consideration of concensus vis-a-vis adequacy of time to contest free and square.

What have we not seen under this system? A man who was not his party’s candidate became a Governor. A candidate who came fourth in election had been sworn-in as Governor in a legitocracy. The ruling political party lost the right to present any candidate for a statewide election. The nomination form for presidency has hit the N100 million mark … (you may fill in the gap) … Still, nothing weirder than Jonathan.

His Excellency, former President Goodluck Jonathan is no longer an ordinary man. He was in power and still has access to the instruments of power including the most sophisticated information. He is not the kind you can tell: ‘they are deceiving you!’. That is if he is not deceiving them. So, when the idea was mooted last year, right-thinking Nigerians took it serious. He gave vent to the rumours by paying a semi-government visitation to the Emir of Bauchi.

The proponents of the jonathanism concept are thinking of luring a southerner who will not be qualified for second term to become President so that power will return to the north.

Few days to the primary election convention of the ruling APC, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is still a consideration so much that people have started advising him for and against it. It raises fundamental questions that expose the jedi-jedi democracy we are running.

1. As a former President (immediate past for that matter), he is not deceived and he has means of verifying the facts. So, there are arrangements to sway support by all means by the architects of the scheme in the ruling party.

2. By the token of that assurance, it means that all the jostlings by the presently known aspirants (mostly eminent by the standards of this formula and some by all standards) depend on a force that is so coercive and cohesive and coax. Hence, the great number is still determined by a small number and the universal franchise is a hoax afterall.

3. If that cabal is serious in intent, it is a tacit admission of failure of the system by its operators since the one that was roundly condemned is now considered suitable even when the incumbent second-in-command is a contestant.

4. It is almost needless to suggest that APC = PDP as it is self-evident.

5. To, some people, the growth and greatness of this country is secondary to the primitive geographic balancing and they are oblivious of the sufferings and feelings of the people because it is considered that the people have hobson’s choice.

6. By same implication, it is a daring move to tell all population and political minorities to go to hell and the paradigm of ethnic balance has shifted and reset till-His-Kingdom-come.

7. When he gets the ticket, then, there is a merger of forces as PDP bystanders will realign and join APC; and, given the time it is set to happen, it will be too late for a meaningful opposition so much that it will be a one-party state and the disgruntled ones will retire.

8. But, is it just politics? Is it just numbers? Have they considered reactions? Will there be a polity again? Is it hobson’s choice? Is that how deranged those who this system has thrown up to rule over the affairs of people? Is there no standard in political madness?

9. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, 2009 – 2015 again! As if we have forgotten and forgiven; As if he forgot and is deluded.

10. Perhaps it is worth mentioning that as Dr. Jonathan is qualified for one term, so he is qualified for second term because he is not running a joined tenure. It is a fresh start!

11. It all underscores the fact that it is yet to dawn on people that nothing good will come out of the ‘Nazareth’ of this system. Pure democracy encourages domination by a ‘mere majority’. The ‘north’ will determine the winner either by direct or indirect primary.

12. I check my seeming nonsense with the recent positions of Chief Afe Babalola SAN, the Sultan of Sokoto and the Imam of the Presidential mosque on the uncertainty of the 2023 elections.

13. Dr. Jonathan has always been controversial. He may well go ahead, win and add to his accolades the alias: ‘the last straw!

Written By S. O. K. Shillings Esq.