As we bask in the euphoria of the recently conducted elections I have noted albeit with consternation the various praises for Jonathan's immediate actions (conceding defeat) especially the most outrageous; that is the calls for a Nobel peace prize to be conferred on him.
Here is my opinion. Given the circumstance and various interests both local and international the elections attracted, Jonathan had no choice but to concede. The world was watching us. The defeat was glaring even with political interference. So that action in his own best interest was to give him a smooth fall or a soft landing. It had nothing to do with patriotism or the best interests of the Nigerian state. He proved this when he squandered various opportunities to make Nigeria peaceful and unified. Instead he always put personal and party interest above national interest.
I am sure here was one occasion He went with superior and better counsel from elders both home and abroad. He must have been reminded of the travails that have befallen Mr Laurent Gbagbo and wife of Ivory Coast who now face various prison terms for refusing to accept glaring defeat and the resultant bloodshed. For all we know had Jonathan been stubborn or foolhardy to heed to the advise of the desperate people around him (we saw their actions play out in the days preceding the elections) there would have been massive revolt across the nation and the attendant bloodshed would have been on his neck and of course put him and his wife Mrs Jonathan as good candidates of the ICC. Remember the out going 1st lady already has petitions on her at the ICC.
That said, the person who should be applauded the most is Attahiru Jega who stood firm even in d face of government interference, intimidation and all what not to organised a most unprecedented free, fair and transparent contest in recent history that the whole nation now can be proud of. Indeed this man has written his name in gold in the sands of time. Trust me, Jega is the true Hero of this present democratic dispensation.
May i add that those saying Jonathan created the platform where the voices of the people can be heard are all correct. But i have not been convinced that it is worthy of any high praise. He simply did the job he was elected to do. We must all agree that you don't give a police man an award for arresting a criminal or a doctor an award for saving life because those are simply their jobs. I hope sooner than latter we in Africa and Nigeria begin to look beyond these basics when applauding our leaders.
God bless us all.
Guest Article by
St George King (George Mgbeze)
No comments:
Post a Comment