If Jonathan Decides to Run…

Ingram Osigwe

By Ingram Osigwe
There is an ongoing debate regarding the political propriety and expediency of Dr. Good luck Jonathan’s presidency beyond 2011. The polemics of the arguments is interesting and it is fast gathering momentum. It is unexpected. In Nigeria as in other civilized nations of the world where politics has become an expanse of minefield of rational investment for future harvest, the question of who governs the country will excite anybody’s curiosity. And so is the permutation and desirability or otherwise, of Dr. Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential election.
It is true that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the largest political party in Nigeria today. At its formation it was part of the party’s arrangement to zone the presidency to the south. It was an excellent political calculation to win the support of the south for its political ambition of capturing both state and federal powers. And it worked. The zoning of the presidency had nothing to do with the party’s belief in the eligibility of the south for the position of presidency but for pecuniary political consideration. If not, other political parties in the country should have followed the same pattern.
Events have since changed and the world is getting more and more sophisticated and guided by sound knowledge, ability and capability of individuals and nations. Today’s world thrives as a global village where the best brain is given the most critical and the most demanding, makes the best out of the task and gives the best to the people as a worthy steward of the people. That is why in the US and Britain, for instance, a Kenyan could contest for the highest office of the land, and a Nigerian could be allowed to buy Gatwick Airport respectively. In spite Britain’s high racial factor, in politics the best gets the people’s votes irrespective of the colour of your eyes. It is time for such in our land as well. Incidentally it is the greedy political class that has, and is working, to circumvent this virtue. The well meaning average Nigerian cares less where his leader comes from if he gets his required number of meals each day, and is paid promptly for services rendered. We need not fear who is our president provided the citizens accept him through their votes. All that is important is to ensure that every voter’s vote counts and is counted at each election. As at today there is a negligible few yet to make up their mind for Dr. Jonathan as presidential candidate in 2011.
This group fears that the demands of political campaign might distract the president from focusing on the critical challenges that face the nation today. The group also fears that his involvement in the election as a candidate might not afford him the liberty to be an unbiased umpire. These fears are genuine if well intended. What is important is for a credible individual to be installed as INEC chairman. He must be person who would not accept dictates from anybody. This is one aspect of the electoral reform which the president himself is committed to.
The fear in some quarters that power may soon return to the South so quickly should not be the preoccupation of minds at this time of the nation’s steady course of redirection in the path of peace and international acceptability as worthy partner in the search for solution to the world’s problems. Jonathan and Yar’Adua had a joint ticket. If Yar’Adua were alive he would have undisputed second term, if his health permitted him. Jonathan would still remain his deputy. As fate has it, Jonathan is the one living. He should be supported to carry on from where both he and Yar’Adua left off before the latter’s death. Besides, Jonathan has demonstrated that he has the mien to govern the country. He has shown that he has the temperament to lead in the face of any form of odds. Jonathan has acted to us that he is not one to lose his head in the face of political cataclysm or social insurrection. He is calculative and focused. That is the type of President Nigerians need.
At the moment the entire world seems to have bought into his leadership and it is quite appreciative of his genuine commitment to Nigeria’s growth and greatness with respect to serious adherence to human rights, war against corruption and good governance which are the essence of democracy.
As at today Dr. Jonathan has yet to say anything regarding his future political ambition, but it is very clear that not just the south south or south east but a sizeable population of the North and south west is rooting for his continuing in Aso Rock beyond 2011. To all well discerning citizens, this is highly instructive. There should not be any fears whatsoever that the Jonathan presidency would marginalize the north and thus work against her interest. The nation has learnt from experience that there is no longer room for such administration. Everybody knows the direction the world is moving today and we do desire the virile, wise and knowledgeable government that can take us in that direction - a world of peace, freedom, opportunities, equalities and high standard of living for majority of the people. This should be our greatest concern. Who can deliver all these? The person who can and has shown the potential to do this should be afforded the opportunity to hold the reins of power. We believe that Jonathan has so for proved that he has the mien to deliver it. For the sake of continuity also it is reasonable to reinstate Jonathan in 2011.
’’North or South does not put food on the table or electricity into our cables”, someone said. This is quite true. Whoever can deliver the goods is qualified to rule. Jonathan is. Yet for all his good intentions for Nigeria, one year is simply too small to achieve the great goals. So he needs more time. 
“The power equation in Nigeria is always about Hausa/Fulani/Igbo/Yoruba. The minority ethnic groups are often ignored. Since the South-south produces the nation’s current means of livelihood – oil – someone from the region should be given a chance to rule Nigeria for once”, another group argues. The presidency of Nigeria is the property of all Nigerians and not restricted to, or exclusive of ethnic or regional enclaves. This is the time we should begin to redefine our nationhood in the proper sense of common values and virtues.
If Jonathan runs, he can win fair and square. He will have his own calculations. Ordinarily, he would expect to win. Power of incumbency is a big factor.  In other words, Jonathan will expect to win in 2011. Besides, Jonathan is a minority of the minorities from the south south that has not had the opportunity of holding power at the highest level in the land. He comes from an area that produces the wealth that is the life wire of this country. Since the election that brought him to power on the Yar’adua joint ticket subsists until next year, and since there was an unwritten understanding among the nation’s political stakeholders for the current regime to run for two terms, it becomes reasonable to maintain the status quo ante and allow the Jonathan presidency in 2011. It would be gross injustice to deny the region this political chance.
  I maintain that the president is doing well. He has promised the whole world free and fair elections. He is taking necessary steps to realize this. There is no doubt that Jonathan’s electoral fortunes will certainly benefit Nigerians. His anti-graft war is already catching on, and the EFCC has woken up from its slumber and pretences. This shows that the president has the political will to take on big problems and tackle them effectively. He can hope to leverage on these positives to push his candidature.
Despite all the arguments for and against his candidature, the truth, in the final analysis, is that if Jonathan runs and wins, there is nothing anybody can do. The nation could only be better for it. And this is what we all desire.

Osigwe wrote in from Ideato, Imo State, and can be reached on e-mail: ingram4real@yahoo.co.uk