By Sam Nda- Isaiah

Jonathan And Opposition Insults
Sun, 11/03/2012 - 11:17pm | SAM NDA-ISAIAH The Monday Column - Last Word
...Last week, the president complained through his spokesperson, Dr Reuben Abati, that the opposition Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) had scant respect for his person. I would have found the statement quite amusing, but for the fact that the president and his adviser Abati appeared to really mean what they were saying. Many Nigerians have complained that the political opposition in Nigeria appears too weak to stand up to the government on many issues, yet the president thinks the insult is getting too much. This only proves that those in government today need more schooling on the appreciation of the democratic norm and the appurtenances which include free speech that may occasionally include “insults”.

The president complained on Wednesday that ACN publicity secretary Lai Mohammed’s statement was replete with “disparaging words about the president”. The ACN was reacting to the president’s statement that “the PDP is the only democratic party in Nigeria”. Lai Mohammed, on behalf of the ACN, advised the president to “take a long, hard look at himself in the mirror to see if he truly wants to see the face of a party leader who is fast turning his party into a one-man show”. The ACN also said that Jonathan was a highly partisan and easily excitable president. In response, Abati said: “We consider this denigration of the office of the president in the name of opposition politics as clearly unhealthy politics, and completely tactless.” The statement also remarked that “the ACN spokesperson repeatedly resorts to personal attacks and disparaging remarks about the president”. It added the clincher, “It is Mohammed who needs to take a long, hard look at himself in the mirror and ask whether his party is truly a democratic party.”

This statement only further exposes the mind of the presidency. Not long ago, Nasiru el-Rufai, who was once in the president’s PDP but now a leading figure in the opposition CPC, was arrested and detained at the airport for – you won’t believe it – writing uncomplimentary articles about President Jonathan. Apparently, in our own unique democracy, you can be arrested for your views! El-Rufai was a minister of the FCT. It would appear that President Jonathan is much more comfortable with those who would tell him that he is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria since sliced bread, even though the nation is falling apart and corruption has ground the country to a standstill.

As far as many Nigerians are concerned, Nigeria’s opposition parties have still not gone far enough. At least, nobody has called President Jonathan a slowpoke yet. During Gordon Brown’s leadership of the United Kingdom, “Gordon is a slowpoke” almost became an anthem among the Tory opposition members now in power. Some actually went far enough to call the prime minister an idiot when the economy appeared to be collapsing under his watch. A Labour opposition member once accused Margaret Thatcher of having “the sensitivity of a sex-starved boa constrictor”. Prime Minister John Mayor, on his own, had called then opposition Labour leader Tony Blair a “dimwit”. A member of the European parliament once stood up in parliament and told the European president, Herman Von Rompuy, to his face that he had “the appearance of a low-grade bank clerk”. The president was not amused but the citizens felt greatly entertained.

Anyone who feels too big to be politically insulted should just find something else to do and not jump into the political fray. That advice also goes to President Jonathan who himself wants to enjoy the perks of insulting his opponents and yet so intolerant of opposition insults.

During the 2011 presidential campaigns in the south-west, the president declared that the zone was too important “to be left to rascals” – a reference to the ACN. When Bola Tinubu responded in kind by describing the president as “a drunken fisherman whose boat is about to capsize”, the ACN leader received a call from the SSS. What was the SSS’ business in the matter? Even in responding to Lai Mohammed’s “rude” advice that the president should take a long, hard look at himself in the mirror, Abati said “it is Lai Mohammed that should take a long, hard look at himself in the mirror”. That’s fair enough.

Leaders may not like the political insults that come with their offices – and they are not expected to – but it is the price they pay for being on the payroll of the people. And this will be especially so if the president is not performing to the expectation of the people who put him there in the first place. If the Nigerian president really thinks his catastrophic failures and bumbling incompetence do not call for some occasional political insults, then, he definitely needs more schooling, even though Abati devotedly calls his boss “a highly experienced, scholarly and non-partisan president”.

In democracies, making fun of leaders, especially presidents and prime ministers, is fun and considered in enlightened circles plainly as entertainment. It is one of the perks of a democracy that you cannot be punished for holding a view about your president. It is the privilege and birthright of citizens in a free society.

During the First and Second republics in Nigeria, it was really fun. It was always interesting listening to Abubakar Rimi talk about Shehu Shagari almost daily. Rimi was the progressive PRP governor of Kano State and Shagari, the president under the platform of the conservative NPN. Ditto for Chuba Okadigbo, especially when tackling both Nnamdi Azikiwe and Obafemi Awolowo, both of the opposition NPP and UPN respectively. Okadigbo was President Shagari’s very colourful political adviser. It was Okadigbo who once characterised Zik’s vitriolic statement about the NPN as the “rantings of an ant”. Those were the fun days of politics and democracy that Nigerians sorely miss today.

When once asked to comment on Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Edward Heath who was Thatcher's opposition in the same Conservative Party responded, “I am not a doctor”. The funny implication was that Thatcher was a lunatic. He went on to add that “she (Thatcher) probably thinks Sinai is the plural of sinus”.

Even Idi Amin, the uncouth Ugandan dictator, once had his own against Prime Minister Heath, even though he (Amin) was too unrefined to appreciate the humour in his statement. While in Britain on an official visit and in response to a speech welcoming him to London, Idi Amin said, “I love Prime Minister Edward Heath. He is a very tough man just like Hitler.” The prime minister’s associates were utterly embarrassed but the opposition had a good laugh.

Ross Perot once said of President Bill Clinton: “Nobody likes to be called a liar, but to be called a liar by Bill Clinton is really a unique experience.” And last year when many people thought Rick Perry, a former US Republican Party presidential candidate, was crazy, former President Clinton disagreed. Rick Perry, he said, was “just a good-looking rascal”.

JF Kennedy once said of Richard Nixon with whom he was locked in a fierce presidential election contest: “He (Nixon) is a cheap bastard; that’s all there is to it. He is a filthy, lying son of a bitch, and a very dangerous man.” An opposition United States politician once described a serving American president as having all the characteristics of a dog except for loyalty.

It could even be worse. Dorothy Parker, an American writer, upon hearing the news that former President Calvin Coolidge had passed away, said: “How can they tell?” A journalist once said of former President George W. Bush: “He is unusually incurious, abnormally unintelligent, amazingly inarticulate, fantastically uncultured, extraordinarily uneducated, and apparently quite proud of all these things.” Rush Limbaugh, the inimitable United States conservative commentator and entertainer, once called President Barack Obama a jackass.

What great leaders do is turn the table against their insulters. Last Tuesday, during a press conference, President Obama was asked what he had to say to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney who had described him in very insulting terms. Obama said: “Good luck tonight.” That evening was the famous super Tuesday primary election night of the hotly contested Republican presidential nomination process, and what Obama was saying was that Romney should face his own more serious personal challenges of winning his party’s ticket first. It was a very sophisticated and well-educated counterpunch at Romney that sent the entire White House reporters crew roaring with laughter.

Another good one was during President Ronald Reagan’s re-election presidential debate in 1984 with Walter Mondale, the Democrat’s presidential candidate. Mondale had made an issue of Reagan being the oldest American president ever. He had insinuated that Reagan was too old to effectively function as president, a fact that was going to affect Reagan’s re-election bid. When the reporter asked President Reagan if his age mattered, he turned the table against Mondale by saying, “No, not at all, and I want you to also know that I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” Americans who found Reagan’s response quite smart and witty laughed their way to the polling booths, voting massively to re-elect Reagan. Reagan was 73 years then and Mondale was 56.

During Winston Churchill’s days, a political opponent really had to be well prepared before taking him on. A female political detractor obviously didn’t observe this due diligence. During a conversation with him, she said, “Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink.” “Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it,” Churchill responded without batting an eyelid.

These are the stuff that make democracy really exciting. They are like the icing on the cake. One of my favourite insults comes from my friend Reuben Abati himself in his The Guardian column during Obasanjo’s reign and the then president always excused political assassinations as the handiwork of armed robbers. Abati once wrote to the laughter of many Nigerians that the way Obasanjo talked about armed robbers, you’d think they reported to him.

Nigerians have always cherished free speech. And not even the military leaders were able to do anything about that.

E A R S H O T

What Kind Of Argument Is That?

In the aftermath of the very sad and embarrassing murders of two expatriate workers last week by terrorists in Sokoto, the government and Boko Haram have been engaged in a very absurd argument. The federal government blamed Boko Haram for the kidnap and murders; Boko Haram has denied it, but agents of the government continue to insist that Boko Haram was responsible. But does it really matter who was responsible? Shouldn’t the government just get its act right in ridding the country of all sorts of criminals by whatever name they may be called? Or, does the government think it makes it look less incompetent if it is Boko Haram that is responsible, since some of them in government have been lying to themselves that Boko Haram was created to make President Goodluck Jonathan look incompetent?

Anyway, the country is now plagued by kidnappers, armed robbers, Boko Haram, Niger Delta militants, fuel subsidy thieves, ethnic cleansers and all sorts of criminals. It is time for the Jonathan government to start showing proof that it is worthy of the office it got elected in

I wonder how Lai Mohammed's remark that GEJ should take a hard long look at himself in the mirror can be considered an insult. Even though it is certainly not a compliment it hardly constitutes an insult unless GEJ and his camp are allowing narcissism to creep into their ranks.

Though I'm not "in love" with pres. GEJ, I doubt that the complaint statement emanated from him. Idle Abatti may just be trying to be busy and relevant to his less smart boss.

He needs to grow some thick skin and stop whining like a pansy.
Why should he care what people say or think when he is suppose to be a leader?
He only has this one chance and he better make it good.
What a whimp!

Leaders are born, not made.
Shame.

Dont blame Abati the Donkey o, you know for all his years in journalism he never wore fitted suits until he became Jona's PA. Haba!! Una want the guy to go back to 'hustling' again? On a more serious note, the statement is moronic and idiotic to say the least, every Nigerian has the right to call the president any name they like. Better leaders than him (Obama, Merkel, Rawlings, Mbeki and co) have been called names. He should stop whining like a deflowered pansy, grow some balls and actually behave like a president with brains.

An interesting article worth reading:Domestic Violence-The Problem Pervading Nigeria

http://thinkafricapress.com/nigeria/domestic-violence-problem-pervading

Callotti: He needs to grow some thick skin and stop whining like a pansy.
Why should he care what people say or think when he is suppose to be a leader?
He only has this one chance and he better make it good.
What a whimp!

Leaders are born, not made.
Shame.

smart talk man. If u say gud abt one, it doesnt make him neither doz it break him wen u say bad abt him, xo d president should jst play his part. Simple.

Insults polish a leader. A no "yes sir" follower is an ardent critics of a leader. Insults are appraisable tools of a leader's performance

Hasn't even received a quarter of what has been thrown P-GEJ way and he is whinning. What a sore loser he is.

Most of us know what to expect from GEJ but Abati is a national disappointment.

You just mentiond other peoples reply to insults. GEJ have also replied the opposition in his own way and everybody is complaining, whatever you want others do to you, do it unto others. No matter how weak you think GEJ may be, he is not the first president of nigeria, he is just trying to repair what others destroyed.

The fact is that our politics in Nigeria is a politics of bitterness. In UK and US to mention just few, the oppositions take on the president on his policies and National Issues, and not the president himself. Even when they inadvertently insult the president while doing so, you will see them come back the next day and appologize openly because the people will not take it from them, and they need the people for the next election.

What a baby this GEJ. Go and grow up jare

I am surprised that some idiots could still support this clueless president. The guy is obviously jobless. Otherwise why would a serious man keep whining about what the opposition says.

If u say ur President is stupid, useless, clueless etc. What does that make you?

se dis my shameless ijaw man think say him na general? or doesnt he knw the meaning of opposition? abeg some1 tell him opposition means against not for abi him want make them de fear am? man wey suppose be fisher man abi wetin person wey study fishery suppose to do watever happened to specialisation

Come to think of it, he made me realised the oppositions are rascals. it's like he first threw the grenade of insults

Sum ppl still av d nerve 2 support dis GEJ of a man, well d truth of dis matter is dat if u try and check d names of dose support GEJ u will notice or see a trace dat dey ar 4rm south-south or some 4rm east,dey don't want 2 accept his a bad leader being d first president 4rm der region....2 be sincere majority regret voting for u GEJ...

GEJ Lack orientation about democracy because he thinks to be the nigeria commander in chief of the armed forces does not make him a general. He need to appoint politicians to cabinet and not opportunist like himself

manosteel: The fact is that our politics in Nigeria is a politics of bitterness. In UK and US to mention just few, the oppositions take on the president on his policies and National Issues, and not the president himself. Even when they inadvertently insult the president while doing so, you will see them come back the next day and appologize openly because the people will not take it from them, and they need the people for the next election.

Definitely you know nothing about foreign politics especially American

Go and check the amount of insults Obama has endured as a president

Some ppl dont even refer to him as President

Some said he made Harvard by affirmative action, Some ppl insisted he has to go and produce his birth certificate after he produced it, Some said it was forged

Yet you claim only Retardeen Jonathan is insulted?

You really need to expose yourself

off course critisizm is welcomed, insult and abuses are also part of a democratic setting but, i think the govt. Would appreciate it better if it wasn't coated with envy,jealousy, intentions to fraustrate governance, revenge for the unknown and anything that would reduce the trust and willingness of the people to co-operate and work with the govmt in achieving collective goals.
I'll say opposition parties should be careful what they sow.

dayokanu:

Definitely you know nothing about foreign politics especially American

Go and check the amount of insults Obama has endured as a president

Some ppl dont even refer to him as President

Some said he made Harvard by affirmative action, Some ppl insisted he has to go and produce his birth certificate after he produced it, Some said it was forged

Yet you claim only Retardeen Jonathan is insulted?
e
You really need to expose yourself

Very True, and this is a Man that bailed out General Motors and other distressed Companies and now they are making MASSIVE Profits, practically destroyed Al-Qaeda, increased Employment in just 3 Years.
All this in his FIRST TERM, if Anyone
should complain about being Insulted or Criticized, it should be Obama not GEJ, who is yet to realize that being President entails more than Globe-trotting.

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All these power drunk foolish old men have been for over 40 years queing in their large numbers in every corridors of power,fighting everyone only to increase the number of oil blocks they would control or sell off in far away lands without even giving a damn about anyone near those lands, now all of a sudden are now the ones shading crocodile tears asking the president to take a look in the mirrow, just because he refused to continue with their monstrous ways, and is trying to see if the help that would be provided to the dead and rotten body is going to be any helpful at all before whatever that would happen to the dead rotten body happens to it. I suggest these old fools and agents of the nights should first of all switch on the light and take a very good looke at themselves in the mirrow. What have they given to the people ever since they used guns and tanks to lord it upon us for 46 years, apart from MATATSINE and ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC CONFERENCE WITH FORCE,SHARIA LAW AND BOKO HARAM not forgeting the very arogance display to our faces that the are "BORN TO RULE MOMBO JOMBO CRAP" which they have force on us, SO WHAT ELSE DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER? that we have not seen yet, honestly you lot are clever with conscience you should be covering your faces in boholes by doing yourselves a whole lot favours and just shaaat up.