President Goodluck Jonathan’s triumph over his two comical contenders, Atiku Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida, was achieved through skillful deployment of PDP’s well known tactics for winning elections; intimidation, blackmail and patronage. And if all failed, resort to outright violence especially if it is intra-party battle, often the most viciously fought.

For this victory, the strategy adopted by Jonathan’s handlers was cleverly executed by war and terror strategists, ex President Olusegun Obasanjo and Tony Anenih ‘Mr. Fix it’. As a sitting president, Jonathan was equally lucky to be in charge of disbursement of huge resources which is all that matter to PDP governors and legislators. Now with the nomination duly secured after a brutal internal struggle, Jonathan and his party, have started to behave as if the April election is as good as won.

They are ready to continue with their twelve years of PDP decay for four more years.

Nothing demonstrates this better than the fact that two months to the April election, Jonathan is yet to talk about his vision or convince us that he has so far demonstrated he can be a successful manager of our resources. For now he seems to have delegated that to all manner of wooly groups that money can buy. The groups have been very active, boring us with dreary humour when what is required is solemn reflection on how Nigeria got reduced to the level of PDP and its presidential candidates.

For instance, The United Nigeria Group (TUNC) wants us to vote for Jonathan because ‘he is humble, passionate and God loving’. As for the United Izon Nation (UIN) we must ‘let Jonathan be president, so as not to truncate God’s project’. Before this stage, The Consensus Watch (TCW) had told us Jonathan is our man because Atiku, his main rival was not truly a northern consensus candidate as he was picked by five Hausa/Fulani committee of nine. This, to the group is a betrayal of the multi cultural composition of the north. With the same warped reasoning, One Nigerian Coalition (ONC) has told us that Jonathan is our man because he is ‘the truly consensus candidate having been endorsed by PDP governors, PDP parliamentary caucuses, PDP Council Chairmen, South West, South South,…’

Jonathan who fortuitously has always been in the right place at the right time doesn’t seem to be in hurry to persuade us that he has the capacity to address any of the divisive issues of Nigerian politics such as, credible elections, resource control, workable federalism and corruption. Under Jonathan and his PDP dominated legislature, we lost a chance to address the vexed issue of election rigging, the bane of our transition process since 1964, with the rejection of critical aspects of the Justice ‘Uwais’Report’ by PDP self serving lawmakers. Neither has Jonathan given any indication of a new insight to the issue of revenue allocation, a sore point for the oil producing areas where there are no bridges over their rivers while resources from their backyard are deployed for building bridges over land in other parts of the federation. Jonathan has similarly failed to demonstrate he has an answer to the ongoing cycle of violence in Jos, a carry-over of the Middle Belt uprising for self actualization in the early years of independence. Conflicts between settlers and indigenes is not necessarily a failure of federal arrangement, but the result of politicians unfaithfulness as aptly demonstrated by NPC and NCNC in the first republic and now PDP. Today as orgy of violence goes on in Jos, president Goodluck appears to be awkwardly watching in helplessness.

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Nigerians have come to accept PDP’s other name as corruption. Indeed, it is as if EFCC was designed as an internal cleansing commission for PDP. Most of those indicted either as governors, Senate presidents, Speakers of the legislature and party chairmen have been PDP members. As the transition draws closer, Jonathan has become the arrow head. We have been told by PDP that no one has monopoly of corruption among PDP members. They alleged the president ferried millions of naira meant for improving the wellbeing of his people of Balyesa , to aid ex president Obasanjo in his failed third term bid, just as James Ibori criminally frittered Delta funds to sponsor the election of late president Yar’Adua.

Although the EFCC has denied finding anything incriminating against the president, but on this score, the cynical public seem to have more faith in PDP than EFCC. To them, the logic is simple; PDP knows its members and the members know PDP.

But as if president Goodluck Jonathan was out to validate the PDP ‘no one has monopoly of corruption’ thesis, he and his party have been doing what they know how to do best, wheeling and dealing at the expense of the country. Shortly before the presidential primary, jittery president Jonathan shared out one billion dollars, taken out of our reserve, among the three tiers of government. The President did not tell Nigerians what the bonanza was meant for, but since he, in a unique PDP style, secured landslide victory even in his political opponent’s backyard, he has allowed Nigerians to speculate that the money was meant for mobilization of delegates.

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, (CNPP) has also alerted Nigerians about what it termed ‘the orgy of waste and corruption’ by the federal executive that recently awarded over one billion naira contract for ‘feasibility studies, detailed engineering design and drafting of contract document on utilization of coal in Enugu and Benue, Kogi/Gombe axis.’ This according to CNPP is a ‘wastage and cover up for corruption by PDP and President Jonathan’ since there is evidence of several similar feasibility studies on the same subject earlier carried out ‘by PDP led federal government in addition to similar studies by private firms all at the disposal of federal ministry of power.

The body also claimed that a contract for the dualisation of Agege-Otta-Abeokuta, a road awarded to Julius Berger PLC in 2001 for N7b (seven billion naira), was also re-awarded. Also re-awarded are the Ilorin –Ibadan , Owerri-Onitsha, Gombe –Maiduguri roads .But the president and PDP were silent on who got what from monies earlier appropriated and disbursed for their construction .

Despite warnings of experts about the precarious nature of an economy that does not focus on capital expenditure to create jobs, of President Jonathan’s proposed budget of N4.226 trillion for this year, only 1.005 trillion was devoted to capital expenditure while 3.221 trillion will be on recurrent items. Such items of course include the scandalously huge salaries of members of the legislature, N500m as food allowance for the vice president office and N1.5m a day as provision for lunch in the presidency.

This is what to expect from another four years of PDP and Jonathan. This is the picture of doom and gloom that all the warring opposition presidential candidates can avert, if indeed they truly love Nigeria. Those who cannot see leadership as a privilege that calls for sacrifice, but choose to behave like fiefdom war lords of Somalia cannot bring change to a nation that needs true patriots to forestall continuation of PDP twelve years of decay.

Facts and not Propaganda.

yep true. unfortunately, a large bulk of nigerians would rather believe, trust, support and cheer on jonathan just because he is the first president from south south and they believe "God" sent him to save dem. I don't blame dem, education and awareness is crappy in this country.

Every discerning person can recognize the voice of desperation when they hear it. No internet rants by psychotic clowns can change the facts on the ground.

PDP is the party to beat. GEJ is the candidate of choice for 2011.

No vacancy in Aso Rock!!!!!!!

Stromae:

yep true. unfortunately, a large bulk of nigerians would rather believe, trust, support and cheer on jonathan just because he is the first president from south south and they believe "God" sent him to save dem. I don't blame dem, education and awareness is crappy in this country.

This is the truth . With events we are seeing everyday I am now convinced we are destined to learn the very hard way. It is only those who don't know Nigeria , continously tagged a failed State, who will think Jonathan (assisted by the most rapacious hands) will do anything other than contribute his own share of ineptitude and misrule that will tip us over the edge.

johndoe200:

Every discerning person can recognize the voice of desperation when they hear it. No internet rants by psychotic clowns can change the facts on the ground.

PDP is the party to beat. GEJ is the candidate of choice for 2011.

No vacancy in Aso Rock!!!!!!!

Lol - Even at the detriment of the masses - Polluted air 2011



THe only desperate candidate is GEJ amongst all the candidates. Unfortunately inept GEj has refused all valid calls to implement the Justice uwais electoral recommendations which would created a level playing field.

From what i am hearing on ground - other political parties are putting structures in place to counter any pdp rigging machine as it is only way pdp can win elections. 99,03,07 shams elections have provided enough scenarios to learn from.

Gbawe:

This is the truth . With events we are seeing everyday I am now convinced we are destined to learn the very hard way. It is only those who don't know Nigeria , continously tagged a failed State, who will think Jonathan[b] (assisted by the most rapacious hands)[/b] will do anything other than contribute his own share of[b] ineptitude and misrule that will tip us over the edge.[/b]

Fresh Air 2011 - Indeed  - More like populated air -  It is unfortunate that education in Nigeria has been decimated by successive government beyond recognition or how else could poverty development party get away with all these murderous atrocities.  People are funny sha. Look a the Egypt for example i could not believe that you could have pro mubrark group insisting that mubrark should continue ruling even after 30 years of hardship.

Another ranting from an ignorant fool. I need a fresh air

blacksta:

Fresh Air 2011 - Indeed - More like populated air - It is unfortunate the education in Nigeria beyond recognition or how else could poverty development party get away with all these murderous atrocities. People are funny sha. Look a the Egypt for example i could not believe that you could have pro mubrark group insisting the the man should continue ruling even after 30 years of hardship.

Personally , I think some people should be careful about what they wish for. For some folks , it is all about Jonathan and the minority "underdog" winning that they have totally lost sight of how Jonathan , with his numerous actions/inaction , is the wrong minority "underdog". Some people myopically see a win for GEJ as a win for their region and "their people" because they lack the sophistication to appreciate Nigeria as a whole to understand that we will all be suffering together under PDP misrule. Jonathan is not a "minority" leader .  In reality , and looking at the big picture , Jonathan is a very important member of the majority in leadership i.e he is the voice of the selfish and self-serving majority who have gotten us where we are today. These people are hellbent on self-preservation at any cost perhaps to include the disintegration of Nigeria . We saw how a very wicked cabal , with an evil spokesman in Aondoakaa, recently held Nigeria hostage without considerations for our unity as a Nation.


Only those who do not wish Nigeria well or are too ethnically bigoted will want Jonathan as our President beyond the month of May when Mr. President , with many actions, has proven beyond doubt that he is only capable of providing the type of weak , unprincipled , indecisive, profligate, insensitive and "more of the same" leadership that will hasten Nigeria's demise. Jonathan , for example , could not be compelled or bothered , by integrity and a commitment to doing what is right, to move against the legislative gangsterism of Gbenga Daniel. The fallout is that , dangerously for Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel is now a law unto himself enboldened to act as lawlessly as possible without fear of sanction. He is now engaged in a no holds barred war of supremacy against Obasanjo as per PDP guber and senatorial candidates in the State.  Governance is now relegated into irrelevance. So is the consideration of putting the best hands forward . Every kingmaker is now openly and shamelessly using any means possible to enthrone those who will secure their interest in the race for a piece of the national cake. Absolutely nothing is different under GEJ. Ogun state , for example , is phucked if either OBJ or Daniel get their way . it is the same everywhere with wicked men , like Alao Akala , set to get their way. How many of these type of duels by "strong men", encouraged by a very weak and unprincipled President happy to look the other way , can Nigeria look forward to beyond May 2011? Will we survive 'wars' everywhere caused by the struggle to control coffer rather than the need to develop Nigeria?

Those who think Jonathan can achieve anything are simply ignorant of the situation on the ground in Nigeria. Jonathan is "dead on arrival" I just hope he will not be the catalyst to precipitate real chaos in Nigeria. Even those who want to lead and genuinely have the ability and talent will struggle with the Herculean challenge Nigeria represent . That is how bad the situation is. It is then insane some think Jonathan , backed by the most ruinous hands in Nigeria, can make a difference when Mr. president himself admitted he was not "chosen"  because he is the "best man for the Job" .

Guys we must give it to this dogs bollocks called Beaf. The amount of shiet inside that guy is unbelievable.

But Mind you guys, he is being paid, so this is his day job. They are even making him wear woman's skirt and lip stick