The electoral victory of Dr Goodluck Jonathan in the April 16 presidential election will go down in history as one the wonderful aspects of our nascent democracy. Nigerians set aside their differences to vote for continuity, prosperity and stability.
In spite of the contrived political disaffections created to scuttle his nomination by his political platform, the Peoples Democratic Party, through its zoning policy, the North-South dichotomy, the “accidental presidency” thrust on him following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and the ethnic minority syndrome, Dr Jonathan, by the help of God and support of

One thing about the April general elections was that the electorate voted more for personalities/candidates than political platforms, particularly in the presidential election. It was also the reason some political parties decided to adopt outstanding presidential candidates who could win the election and deliver democracy dividends to the populace. It was indeed a wise decision as it helped to reduce the number of candidates as the nation has 63 registered political parties each of which could have fielded a candidate. This in itself is the hallmark of democracy which encourages freedom of association instead of decreeing the number of political parties that people could belong to, willy-nilly.

It was in that spirit that the Alliance for Democracy being the foremost progressive party in Nigeria, an offshoot of Action Group and the Unity Party of Nigeria founded by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, decided at its national convention held in Abuja to adopt Dr Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the presidential election. On 25th February 2011, the party held its National Executive Committee meeting at Yar’Adua Conference Centre, Abuja and officially launched its grassroots campaign for the Jonathan-Sambo ticket.

The victorious ticket was a fulfilment of the prediction by Chief Awolowo that an Ijaw man would one day be the President of Nigeria. The great Awo made the prediction in 1983 while canvassing for votes in Bonny, Rivers State when it was politically impossible to elect a man from a minority tribe as president of Nigeria. As a man of exceptional wisdom, Awo saw the future clearly.

AD, therefore decided to play a major role in actualization of this vision. On Tuesday 12th April 2011, the party held a rally in Abuja for the Yoruba in the North and sensitized them on the need to vote for the Jonathan-Sambo ticket. The speech delivered by the AD National Chairman, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa was published in full in Tribune newspaper of Wednesday, 13th April, 2011. Senator Akinfenwa gave three reasons why the Yoruba people across the nation, indeed all Nigerians should vote for Jonathan-Sambo presidency.

First, the late Premier of Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo had worked strenuously for, and predicted the imminent emergence of an ethnic minority president. At one of his final campaign rallies in 1983, in Bonny, Rivers State, Awolowo, in manifestation of his life-long passionate commitment to the cause of Nigeria’s ethnic minorities, predicted that “an Ijaw man will be president of Nigeria” before long. Jonathan’s presidency can thus be seen as a fulfilment of Awolowo’s prediction, and should be supported by all Yoruba and well-meaning patriotic Nigerians.

Jonathan is the only president so far to acknowledge Awolowo’s contributions to the polity by naming after him, the stadium which he (Awolowo) built, but which a former Head of State autocratically federalized. His (Awolowo’s) peers, resplendent Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sarduana of Sokoto, and the Owelle of Onitsha, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe were worthily rewarded long ago to the joy and admiration of Nigerians.

It was no surprise therefore that AD National Chairman Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa would urge the Yoruba race to vote Jonathan during the election.

For years successive governments have promised Nigerians regular power supply and failed. This is the time to fulfil the promise and achieve 24-hour power supply as obtainable in some African countries including Ghana. Corruption is a cancer that has eaten into the fabric of the nation, this monster must be crushed with federal might using all the security agencies, the EFCC, ICPC, Police, SSS, etc. The need to create wealth and provide employment to our idle youths cannot be over-emphasized. Youth unemployment is the remote cause of the spate of armed robberies, kidnappings, prostitution and violence in the country. Nigerian roads have become a death trap despite billions of naira spent to rehabilitate them over the years. The in-coming Government should tackle this effectively and make our roads safe again.

Education is the foundation of all civilization and development. The Federal Government should make the free and compulsory education programme for our teeming youths a reality. For decades, health-care delivery in government hospitals has been in shambles. Hospitals have remained mere consulting clinics despite billions of naira Federal and States Governments allocated to health-care. It is time to heal and reconcile Nigerians after the keenly contested general elections.

To effectively tackle these and other national issues, the president-elect should assemble patriotic, honest and diligent Nigerians within and outside the country to contribute in building the new Nigeria. Jonathan received a pan-Nigerian mandate and should consider renowned technocrats and qualified members of other political parties to serve in his government. National service is the highest act of patriotism. It should be an honour for anyone to serve his fatherland as obtainable in all democracies, and so it is absurd for anyone to reject such calls to serve.

Bisong wrote from Abuja.

http://dailytrust.dailytrust.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20201:awo-predicted-a-jonathan-presidency&catid=7:opinion&Itemid=12

Bullshit at its ripest.

Chyz*:

Bullshit at its ripest.

Crap.

Awolowo is dead, so let him stay there, Quit with the bull s h i t already.

nonsense

Chyz*:

Bullshit at its ripest.

Calculia:

Awolowo is dead, so let him stay there, Quit with the bull s h i t already.

gidson12:

nonsense

keep hating, it would not take u anywhere

Let Awo rest in peace joo

So Awolowo was a prophet?