President Goodluck Jonathan is clutching at every straw in the way he has been seeking endorsements from all sorts of religious, political and ethnic groups across the country. But it remains to be seen if Nigerians, frustrated with his first term in office, will trust him with another term. The President knows his image has waned over the years.
His quest for a second term is no less dramatic as his election four years ago. This time, he will be judged by his performance, not by the “I have no shoes” rhetoric that swept him into power in 2011, after he had been handpicked by his benefactor, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo, to be the running mate of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007.
Six years down the line, how has the President performed? Has he given account of his stewardship in the six years he has presided over the affairs of the country? Can Nigerians trust the incumbent President to steer the ship of state for another term? These are the questions that have dominated public discourse since the country began the race to the 2015 elections.
With the opposition party APC hot on the heels of the ruling PDP, the race is poised to be very close. The President’s main challenger is Muhammadu Buhari, a former army general and head-of-state whom he defeated in 2011. But that was four years ago. In 2015, Buhari has become a more formidable candidate
Why is this so?
For one, Jonathan has been criticized for not radically transforming the country — the promise inherent in the symbolism of his victory and presidency in 2011. Many Nigerians have criticized his “lame duck” and lackluster approach to governance. On many occasions, the President has been roundly lampooned for the widespread corruption that has become endemic in his administration. Jonathan has played down the issue of corruption as “ordinary stealing”— a line of reasoning that is shocking and outrageous to Nigerians.
Then, there are issues of Boko Haram, unemployment and power. In Jonathan’s “epoch”, the country has plunged into a never-before seen level of insecurity. Boko Haram has claimed territory in the Northeast, killed and maimed thousands of Nigerians. Even with the renewed onslaught by the Nigerian Army, Boko Haram is still a real threat.
The President has also been criticized for the worsening unemployment crisis that has seen millions of Nigerian youths unemployed. The power sector has produced more darkness than light in the six years of Jonathan administration and sixteen years of his party holding federal power.
Nigerians are angry with the President who appears to have pitched his camp with the privileged political and economic elite. He alluded to this in the May Day rally in 2013 in Abuja when he said that poverty have been eradicated with the increasing number of fat-cats who own private jets in his administration. Nigerians were scandalized.
For sure, President Jonathan is credited to have achieved, according to his supporters, more than any other Nigerian president in Nigeria’s history. According to Doyin Okupe, the presidential spokesperson on Public Affairs, Jonathan is the best president since Nigeria’s independence.
Quite a paradox, though: that the best president is also the most criticized, or is he misunderstood? Will he do better in his second term? As the election nears, the battle line is drawn. If Jonathan wins, what will Nigeria look like in the next four years under him? Will he do anything differently?
What should Nigerians expect If Jonathan is re-elected? Nigerians are apprehensive and worried that a second term for Jonathan will aggravate the declining social and economic outlook. All over the world, incumbents seem jinxed by the “second term curse”. I think Jonathan will not be an exception, and not because he is unlucky, but because he doesn’t have the capacity to do things differently. I do not see how he can effect any enduring change in the next four years.
Really, what does he have to lose? What should he care when he would not have to worry about re-election? If the Jonathan has not impressed Nigerians in his six years as president, I do not see how he would make a difference in his second term if re-elected.
Corruption will only become deeper and even more widespread should Jonathan win. No attempt will be made to fight the scourge. His officials will do “last-minute” stealing. They will have a free reign.
In the twilight of his presidency, the economy is experiencing serious challenges. The naira is in a free fall, local and foreign debts have grown exponentially, the country is borrowing more for frivolous projects which end up being mismanaged. With a government that has refused to block leakages, the outlook is indeed very bleak.
How about unemployment? We have seen how the Minister of Finance Okonjo-Iweala has barefacedly trumpeted bogus economic statistics that boasts millions of workplaces even when the reality in the country portrays a different scenario. The Jonathan-led administration does not seem to possess the magic wand to reverse the dire situation.
Apart from corruption, economic and insecurity woes that confront the country, the President has been criticized for not possessing the required leadership to lead the most populous black nation on Earth. He is seen too indecisive, vacillating and tribal to unite the country.
In 2011, when he was elected, he was promoted as a pan-Nigerian candidate. But four years down the line, his critics are worried that his presidency has divided the country along primordial religious and ethnic fault lines. He has not been able to unite the country to reflect the pan-Nigerian mandate that was given to him 2011.
As the election approaches, it is clear that the President has a lot of obstacles standing against his re-election. He is an unpopular candidate who continues to seek endorsement from myriads of groups to shore up his image. Whether the endorsements will help the President rebuild the nation remains to be seen. In the end, Nigerians will determine who is more capable among the two presidential candidates.
If President Jonathan wins, which is not unlikely, Nigerians may have to endure another four years that may be worse than his first term. For me, the possibility of another four years under Jonathan is a scary thought.

that's kind of true

A higher dimension of stealing for the politicians but GOD forbid that GEJ wins.

Nigerians shouldn't punish themselves for another 4 yrs by electing this incompetent man. The article is so true on his incapability to being a president

Going about the country spending billions in public funds in 3-4 weeks, instead of using it to fix the things you ignored for the last 3-4 years isn't the way to get re-elected.

I hope Nigerians can see thru this shambolic strategy.

FIRST LADY LEADING THE PRESIDENT, AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

APC LIE LIAR MUHAMMAD


APC WITCHCRAFT BROOM CARRYING PARTY

The Schizophrenic demented sick Pa Buhari is a terrorist, deranged old brainless super clueless bastard
Apc is boko haram
Thiefnu.bu is a pedophile drug dealer and a cocain sniffer property seized in the usa for his drug deals.

Buhari can only be president in sambisa and shekau would hand over to him with his forged result.

Osinbajo is fake and a loafer

Amechi and Fashola are errand boys

Ambode new recruit errand boy


Buhari boko haram spiritual head

Atiku and Thiefnu.bu boko haram sponsor


BUHARI Abacha is not corrupt and did not steal .

This Jona just has to go for peace to reign

GEJ remains the only option for a united Nigeria and no amount of propagandra will change that fact.

No terrorist, traitor, dictator and seniile old coupist will be allowed near aso rock.

For me, the possibility of another four years under Jonathan is a scary thought.

Really scary thought!

So poignant. Did Reuben Abati pen this under some pseudonym Reads like his works before raw 'necessity' made him turn coat like Quisling. Fingerz xrssd 4 Naija

buchichukwu69:
This Jona just has to go for peace to reign

And sir... there is nothing like buchichukwu, next time you intend to impersonate... try to be smart about it by choosing a meaningful name.

Not eveything ending with chukwu sounds ibo..... APC airheads never learn though

@op, you're a disgrace to your generation. No wonder your family are always ashamed of you. Why not concentrate on cleaning up the mess that'd shredded your miserable life??


BONKERS!!!

Flets:


And sir... there is nothing like buchichukwu, next time you intend to impersonate... try to be smart about it by choosing a meaningful name.

Not eveything ending with chukwu sounds ibo..... APC airheads never learn though

You are too dumb to know that there are two names joined there- first name and surname in short forms. MUMU.

buchichukwu69:


You are too dumb to know that there are two names joined there- first name and surname in short forms. MUMU.

Another dumb attempt at defending dumb impersonation. APC rag skulls never learn

My guy, if you have anything to counter the issues raised by the OP please go on and do so. Let's try to stick to the issues.

Your post below makes you sound like one of those scavengers feeding off crumbs from under GEJ's table.

Dlionsheart:
@op, you're a disgrace to your generation. No wonder your family are always ashamed of you. Why not concentrate on cleaning up the mess that'd shredded your miserable life??


BONKERS!!!

I know only a corrupt minded ones will vote for Gej or a sentimental blinded f.o.o.l.s

buchichukwu69:
This Jona just has to go for peace to reign

Non Sequitor,,,, For PEACE to rain , THE TWO MUST GO,.,,, AND LET ANOTHER PERSON FROM ANOTHER PARTY TAKE OVER ,.,,, BUT IF THEY REFUSE TO GO ,,,, JONA SHOULD JUST CONTINUE COS ,,,, IF BUHARI TAKES OVER ,,,, ONLY GOD KNOWS

The Otuakean is needed at home,eyi to se yii to,won pe e nile,enough i'd enough

IF JONATHAN RULES, NIGERIA WILL BE A BETTER PLACE.
GEJ TILL 2019.

Johnpaul88:
Nigerians shouldn't punish themselves for another 4 yrs by electing this incompetent man. The article is so true on his incapability to being a president

Seconded........................................ Call (08104025614) for complete video tutorial on web designing (XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, JSON etc)

pacesetter939:
A higher dimension of stealing for the politicians but GOD forbid that GEJ wins.

yeah...God must forbid o

Peeps into thread only to see children of anger, hate and anarchy. Smh!

Another case study is Lagos state. Fashola is spending eight years as governor but, Lagos is yet to be transform or develop to cities like New York city. Why? Give Fashola another 4years he cannot do it. How much more a country. We need to be realistic and stick to issues not politics.

Flets:


And sir... there is nothing like buchichukwu, next time you intend to impersonate... try to be smart about it by choosing a meaningful name.

Not eveything ending with chukwu sounds ibo..... APC airheads never learn though

bros how is the 'buchichukwu' affecting the nation?

Una don use time machine look into the future

pacesetter939:
A higher dimension of stealing for the politicians but GOD forbid that GEJ wins.

Dem say voice of the pipu na voice of God,so enuf of ds God 4bid stuff,its more like nigerians 4bid.

Abdullah007:
APC LIE LIAR MUHAMMAD


APC WITCHCRAFT BROOM CARRYING PARTY

The Schizophrenic demented sick Pa Buhari is a terrorist, deranged old brainless super clueless bastard
Apc is boko haram
Thiefnu.bu is a pedophile drug dealer and a cocain sniffer property seized in the usa for his drug deals.

Buhari can only be president in sambisa and shekau would hand over to him with his forged result.

Osinbajo is fake and a loafer

Amechi and Fashola are errand boys

Ambode new recruit errand boy


Buhari boko haram spiritual head

Atiku and Thiefnu.bu boko haram sponsor


BUHARI Abacha is not corrupt and did not steal .

My dear broda,oya clap 4 ya self,but wait O,is it NEWS TELEGRAPH or newtelegraph?
But you tried its just not enuf coz we don decide,Pele.#NeverAgain
#SaiBaba #SaiBuhari

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