[size=15pt]Hurry up, Jonathan[/size]

By Reuben Abati
IT is very easy in a Presidential position in Nigeria, nay Africa, to get carried away with the ceremonies of office, to be largely overwhelmed by the fawning attention of sycophants and opportunists, and as the intensity of this increases, the man of power begins to imagine himself a superman, and he soon forgets his primary assignment and begins to enjoy the office for its own sake and what it can bring. It is both a practical and psychological pitfall, the drama of which has been played out all too often in many African states, to the great discomfort and disadvantage of the people. It looks like President Goodluck Jonathan is beginning to fall into that pit. He needs to watch his steps.

During the inauguration of a new Federal cabinet in March, Acting President Goodluck Jonathan as he then was, seemed to have demonstrated an awareness of this same pitfall when he promised that his government will "hit the ground running." He charged the new Ministers to come up with blueprints within two weeks and that this will be formally presented to the Executive Council and defended. That speech was full of excellent sound bites. In it, the Acting President also promised to focus on certain key areas of governmental activity: electoral reform, the war on corruption, the Niger Delta crisis, and the power sector. To show his determination, the then Acting President also took personal charge of the power portfolio with a promise that his government will ensure regular electricity supply in the country as a matter of urgent priority.

Although there was still so much uncertainty surrounding his Presidency, with the former President Umaru Yar'Adua still in the background on a sick bed, and reports of selective sightings of the ailing President, Jonathan's emergence brought fresh hope and helped to stabilise a drifting polity. With Yar'Adua's death on May 5, and Jonathan's assumption of full presidential powers on May 6, whatever doubts that may have existed about the legitimacy of his government were neatly resolved. But since February, and given the events of the last few days, there is no indication that President Jonathan intends to "hit the ground running." He seems to have hit the ground dancing. He should watch his footwork. Where are the blueprints from the Ministers? Three months have gone already, when will Jonathan start working? He should read the mood of the Nigerian people more carefully, the ordinary people, I mean. They are impatient.

In three years of the Yar'Adua presidency, not much transformation took place as the people continued to search in vain for the same democracy dividends they have been looking for since 1999. They were distracted by tales of Presidential illness, and the wanton irresponsibility of the professional political elite. Jonathan has enjoyed so much public goodwill because he is the beneficiary of the change that the people wanted. Any kind of change would do, and that is why not so much capital has been made out of the fact that Jonathan was in fact a part of the Yar'Adua government as No 2 man. Jonathan is expected to run a Presidency that is driven by a policy of "business unusual." A Presidency that works as if it is under the pressure of time, and it is; a carefully focused government whose only priority is service delivery within the short period available, and a man at the top who inspires fresh confidence because he knows what he is doing.

Early signs indicate that Jonathan may find it difficult stepping up to the game. He has fallen so early into the error of doing business as usual. He is the ultimate pacifier. He seems determined to run a government of the Godfathers. Every man who imagines himself to be a custodian of the Nigerian legacy, even only a portion of it, seems to have a share of his government. Nothing has been more sordid than the silly politicking that has so far attended the appointment of a new Vice President. For comparison, Dr. Jonathan should look towards Britain where a major political situation has been resolved so decently within a matter of days, without any disruptions and the country has moved on. A general parliamentary election was held (no ballot snatching, no violence,  no iwuruwuru), the result was a hung parliament and a coalition government had to be formed (in Nigeria, that could have resulted in bloodshed), Gordon Brown resigns (if he were a Nigerian, he would have found a way of getting some MPs to cross-carpet to the Labour Party), the LibDems align with the Conservatives, David Cameron emerges as Prime Minister (born in 1966; IBB are you there?) and Nick Clegg as Deputy Prime Minister (born in 1967: IBB, you see?), and almost immediately a new cabinet is announced. Britain is moving on. It is possible to say that the circumstances are different (no Prime Minister died in Britain) but we are dealing with the same issues: change of government, management of processes and leadership; while Nigerian flounders, the British have again shown us how a modern government should run.

For a whole week, the country was held hostage by speculations about who should be the next Vice President. We have been treated not to a decisive and prompt choice by the President, but to the activities of all kinds of powerful individuals and groups: The Governors Forum, the Northern Senators Forum, Northern Emirs, the Yar'Adua family, General Theophilus Danjuma, and General Olusegun Obasanjo all associated with the nomination process. The Northern Senators Forum was divided over the issue and the Governors reportedly resolved that one of them must become the Vice President. The Middle Belt was up in protest and some characters from the North West claimed that if the Vice President did not emerge from their geographical zone, Nigeria's unity could be threatened. There has been no talk about quality or merit. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo goes to Katsina to pay a condolence visit and he reportedly told the Yar'Adua family that President Jonathan will sustain the late Yar'Adua's legacy. How does he know that?

In every manner, President Jonathan gives the impression that he is yet to take charge of his office. He should hurry up. He should appoint as Vice President, a man that he can work with, not someone whose only interest is politics and the 2011 general elections. The Governor of Kaduna State, Namadi Sambo has been named Vice president designate, but the Governors Forum is said to have imposed on him on the President. The dirty politicking over the appointment of the Vice President already exposes the dangers in the zoning arrangement and Nigeria's fragile unity. By allowing every matter to drag, Jonathan slows down his government and loses momentum.

When will his initiative on electoral reform begin? What is his blueprint for the Niger Delta? When will the construction companies begin the task of providing needed infrastructure in that region? Or if that is not possible, what structural and constitutional reforms does he want to push through to resolve existing conflicts? On corruption, is he really interested in the anti-corruption war or he is out to use the anti-corruption agencies to settle conflicts within the ruling PDP? These are not the key signals coming out of the Jonathan Presidency. His handling of the appointment of the Vice President can only further divide the PDP. Those whose names have been touted and who have been busy lobbying for support may become new enemies of the president and the new Vice president and do their utmost best to thwart the administration's efforts. In more serious societies, where there are equally divisive issues as in Nigeria, a Vice president would have been announced immediately and all mischief-makers duly neutralised.
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And yet what the people want is real change: change in their circumstances or a momentum in that direction. Something has changed however: President Jonathan's wardrobe. He now oscillates between the Ijaw gear, the Arewa cap and the complete Yoruba agbada. One of these days, he will get round to the Igbo red cap, the Tivi black and white cap, and the Efik/Ibibio wrapper. No chance for the Koma people in that wardrobe arrangement, I think. But can President Jonathan just please, hurry up and focus on the important issues of national interest, the same issues that he himself has identified to start with?

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02/140510?pdate=140510&ptitle=Hurry%20up,%20Jonathan

Can somebody help us remind Uncle Joe that time is running out.

All we have so far are mere words, promises at best.

We need results and am not seeing any yet.

I wonder what excuse he now has, the cabals are no longer in power and yaradua don reach heaven/hell.

Its about time he change his wife's name from Patience to Quick-action cos some of us are running out of patience.

Where are the blueprints from the Ministers? Three months have gone already, when will Jonathan start working? He should read the mood of the Nigerian people more carefully, the ordinary people, I mean. They are impatient.

Good one!
We expected to get the blueprint on power by now. What is holding it oooo @Uncle Jonathan 'lucky-go-lightly'?

OAM4J:

I wonder what excuse he now has, the cabals are no longer in power and yaradeath don reach heaven/hell.

Its about time he change his wife's name from Patience to Quick-action cos some of us are running out of patience.

Ca-wetin? lol
You really SWALLOW that whole line on the existence of some mystery CABAL hold their hands and forcing them not to do the right thing according to the CONSTITUTION and the law? What happened at the end of the day? We still had people circumventing the law and the constitution, creating SPECIAL CASES, to get themselves situated where they wanted to be. Na so so conspiracy theory we go dey chop tire for naija! lol

He had better hurry up or?

this reuben is an intelligent man but he should realize that it is not easy to take the bull by the horn in nigerian civilian politics.what he is calling for is either a military rule or return of an ex general who can use his military might to skip due processes.

^^ My sentiments exactly. I don't know why people are getting excited over nothing. The only thing this man can achieve is good elections. All these other talk of power and corruption is just wishful thinking. With the level of politicking in the next few months, what can be done?

Even if he buys all the power plants nigeria needs today, the earliest date they can get here is december! Everybody tone down your expectations as the only thing you would have as a measure by april next year is just his style of governance, and not any tangible achievements.

^^^

The right question is where are his blueprints? What agenda is he following?

What has he done so far, save from talking and talking and making promises like every typical politicians?

We dont need a military ruler to get Nigeria moving. There are many democratic countries moving froward.

What military power does he need to ensure his ministers present their blueprints. he gave them 2 weeks, now months have passed.

buffox:

^^ My sentiments exactly. I don't know why people are getting excited over nothing. The only thing this man can achieve is good elections. All these other talk of power and corruption is just wishful thinking. With the level of politicking in the next few months, what can be done?

So we should no longer hold the leaders to their promises? The man told the nation he would be in charge of power, supposedly set up a committee to handle it and promised us a blueprint. Should we not hold him to it the way we held Yar adua/Jonathan to the 6 month promise of 6000MW last year, which they eventually failed to deliver on?

buffox:
Even if he buys all the power plants nigeria needs today, the earliest date they can get here is december! Everybody tone down your expectations as the only thing you would have as a measure by april next year is just his style of governance, and not any tangible achievements.

I am only hoping he to sign FOI bill so we can at least move a bit closer to something more democratic than what we have now.

really, johny boy no get time, he no get time to waste,
make he start to dey do his reforms sharp,sharp

People change.

Abati, the ojuju-face chameleon

Guardian have already deleted that article - "http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02/140510?pdate=140510&ptitle=Hurry%20up,%20Jonathan"
You can only run, but you cant hide

peter_tosh:

Guardian have already deleted that article - "http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02/140510?pdate=140510&ptitle=Hurry%20up,%20Jonathan"
You can only run, but you cant hide

Am not surprised!


@Topic

Too bad that after after almost one and half year, we still have to make the same appeal to Mr president - Hurry Up! Unfortunately the author of this piece that was written in May 2010 is now the spokesperson for Mr president and no longer see the need to hurry up Mr President. But I hope Mr President knows that his time is fast running out and that he cannot afford to have the people run out of patience. Hopefully, I wont see this thread in 2012 and still find the need to tell Mr President to Hurry up.

peter_tosh:

Guardian have already deleted that article - "http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02/140510?pdate=140510&ptitle=Hurry%20up,%20Jonathan"
You can only run, but you cant hide

Of course they will delete it. Bunch of conniving pretenders.

This is why Discussion Forums like Nairaland are very vital in a democracy. Well done Seun Osewa.

This fool called ABATI is now the spokesman of the MuMu called Jonathan.... Awon wèyray eniyón!

OAM4J:

Am not surprised!


@Topic

Too bad that after after almost one and half year, we still have to make the same appeal to Mr president - Hurry Up! Unfortunately the author of this piece that was written in May 2010 is now the spokesperson for Mr president and no longer see the need to hurry up Mr President. But I hope Mr President knows that his time is fast running out and that he cannot afford to have the people run out of patience. Hopefully, I wont see this thread in 2012 and still find the need to tell Mr President to Hurry up.

Memories!

Too bad. This is 2013, and we are yet to see the tangible achievements of Jonathan. Guess he has nothing to offer after all, apart from building a legacy of N4B mission house for his wife.

Really sad. Worse for Reuben Abati and more worse for Nigerians

OAM4J:

Memories!

Too bad. This is 2013, and we are yet to see the tangible achievements of Jonathan. Guess he has nothing to offer after all, apart from building a legacy of N4B mission house for his wife.

Really sad. Worse for Reuben Abati and more worse for Nigerians

Or appointing a minister that budgets billions for love peddlers! @bold, I gave up on Him when I discovered that throughout His reign as governor, there was no tangible development project traceable to Him in Bayelsa State.

peter_tosh: Guardian have already deleted that article - "http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/editorial_opinion/article02/140510?pdate=140510&ptitle=Hurry%20up,%20Jonathan"
You can only run, but you cant hide

No mind them that's d thing with Nigeria,no transparency. Why r dey hidding it now

Jonathan is working, haters are hating. FRESH AIR FOR LIFE

Am so disappointed with The guardian, I wonder what the excuse will be from taking this article off their site, anyways, it just keep affirming that every person in any form of authority within the country cares about himself.doesn't even bother about the populace.They use us make money-cos dey know say d article go make the paper sell- but now dey no need d money again since abalti done dey chop national cake.Na wa oh

and abati has the mouth to talk about hypcrisy of yesterdays men, everybody has a price they say.

Honestly I'm not surprised that the Guardian took the article off their site.
Is Abati not part and parcel of The Guardian? They normally love to cook and capitalise on d situation on d ground just to have that recognition and now his hands are tight and his mind his has corrupt as the government he worshipped!!!
God save Nigeria!

Two faced hypocritical chameleon. Thats What They are

superior1: Jonathan is working, haters are hating. FRESH AIR FOR LIFE

I hope you suffocate from lack of that fresh air soon!

AHNNNNN OGA REUBEN YOU MEAN YOU WROTE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ASIN YOU ACTUALLY WROTE THIS?

I CHOOSE NOT TO TOTALLY BELIEVE YOU WROTE THIS,,,,,
OOOH HOW TIME FLYS............., BUT COME TO THINK OF IT TIME HAS NOT FLOWN TO ANYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOT AT ALL, HE WROTE THIS IN 2010! JUST 2010 HERE.

TODAY HE IS OUT DEFENDING THE SAME MAN AND THE SAME GOVERNMENT WITH THE LAST OF HIS BLOOD(EMPHASIS MINE OO)

TODAY HE IS INSULTING AND LAMPOONING ANYONE THAT EVEN SAY SOMETHING REMOTELY CLOSE TO THIS

OOOOOHHH HOW TIME FLY S!!!!

MR REUBEN ABATI(SORRY DR REUBEN ABATI) HOW WOULD YOU FEEL WHEN THIS BEAUTIFUL ARTICLE OF YOURS IS PLACED SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOUR HOGWASH yesterday men/women article.

this only shows how lowly you have fallen my dear reuben,

nawa so men can change like this!!!!! oooh TAMUNOOOOO.

WELL THERE'S A PROVERB IN MY PLACE THAT WARNS THAT NO MATTER THE TROUBLE YOU GO TO LOOK FOR OUTSIDE JUST ENSURE THAT YOU WILL GIVE THOSE AT HOME ENOUGH REASON TO DEFEND YOU WHEN RUN BACK HOME.

LEARN ABATI LEARN

Hurry up kini? more like expecting a snail to beat Usain Bolt in 100 meters sprint. impossi-can't!

what project has Jonathan started and completed in his life, right from his days as deputy governor, governor, vice-president and now president? Nada!!

No vacancy in aso rock till 2019. Any attempt to go contrary to this, we will invoke the amalgamation clause and Nigeria will become history.

3 years later, it's no longer hurry up.....one has to be moving before you can tell them to hurry up, no? GEJ is at a complete standstill.

As for Abati. ...How the mighty have fallen. He couldn't have done a perfect mouth change even if he undergone mouth surgery.

confusion247:
No vacancy in aso rock till 2019. Any attempt to go contrary to this, we will invoke the amalgamation clause and Nigeria will become history.

Question is though, will the Amalgamation clause be honored in the case of political unrest?