Adisa Adeleye

There have been some reactions to my article in this column last week titled: DOING THE RIGHT THING AT THE RIGHT TIME. Some have, I think without justification questioned my sincerity since President Jonathan has been trying his best for the country since he was duly elected in 2011.

Sincerely, I have no doubt that the seemingly amiable but crafty President has been doing his best, even if his best might be judged not to be good enough by others.
It is a pity that in the Nigerian political scene, criticism against party policy is often taken as a personal onslaught by an individual leader.

When sycophants cry out that President Jonathan is the most abused or a criticized Leader in Nigeria, the basis for such belief lacks merit.  It is however true that in moment of exuberance at political rallies, leaders often talk gibly, and make promises which are often forgotten immediately after elections.  Such an important promise the Obi of Onitsha reminded President Jonathan recently: the 2nd Niger Bridge.

Although the act of keeping promises by politicians is not the same as the art of making them, it helps the concept of trust if politicians talk less about lofty ideas that would fire imagination at that moment but later result in condemnation.

My main concern last week was against the attitude of many politicians to the threat to life and property of the hapless Nigerian, not only in the North-Eastern part of the country, but also in the Plateau State where killings have defied solutions offered by the security forces.

The innocent blood of the unlucky combatants is often mixed with the blood of those who perish daily on the poorly maintained roads in a country where politicians and their leaders seem afflicted with psychic disorder. All what is of primary importance to the politicians is the crown of glory that would await the victorious party in 2015.

It is true that the many ills of present Nigeria pre-date the current President and that President Jonathan in his characteristic ‘go-slow‘ approach would overcome over a long period.  Some suggest that a second-term elixir would provide a Leviathan.  It is gratifying to note that the President has refused at present to join in the euphoria of a second-term prospects.

Many analysts believe, and justifiably so, that President Jonathan as the political leader of the nation has a sacred right to call on all Nigerians to form a united front to crush Boko Haram insurgency (warriors) in the North-East, the wandering murderers of Plateau State and the terrible marauders all over the country.

The call for a coalition of forces to suppress insurgency may not be popular where the opposition sees itself in a position to take over power.  The truth is that political equation and sums do not normally add together.  The clear scenario is that opposition to Jonathan is based neither on political ideology or economic principle.  Some see the urge in the dirty fingers of ethnicity – power back to the North or underestimating the essence of governance of a plural society.

There is a great danger in the great rush to the 2015 general elections without serious attempt to remove the obvious obstacles to the general political and economic development.  Apart from the problems of insecurity which have been highlighted, other problems are rooted in the structural deficiencies of the country which many patriots think the National Dialogue of the President could conveniently solve.

Many Nigerians have set high hope on the successful outcome of the National Conference in spite of the negative thinking of the opposition politicians whose lack of trust in President Jonathan is the main factor.
If the President is sincere, he could take the opposition into full confidence and make all Nigerians participate fully.

There should be ‘no go‘ area as erroneously announced by the President Jonathan since the purpose of the Conference is to determine how Nigerians could work together in peace and prosperity.  If properly managed and sincerely coordinated, the National Conference could turn out to be President Jonathan‘s finest hours.

As it has been recognized all over the world, poverty is a potent threat to political stability.  Poverty could arise out of inequitable distribution of income, lack of opportunity,  unemployment and all combined.

In this country, abject poverty is a combination of all the vices except that there are glimpses of extreme wealth, side-by-side with deep poverty – tending to give the impression of a growing economy.  Behind the golden mask of a macro-economic stability lies the stench from a cess-pool of unemployment and very poor Nigerians willing to work and prone to destructive activities.

It is instructive to note that no developed nation would tolerate an unemployment rate of more than 10 per cent (3 percent is the norm) from any government.  Rather, the contesting political parties would campaign of unemployment figure of between 3 to 5 per cent.

However, the Nigerian politicians are dreaming to rule in an atmosphere of about 30 per cent unemployment with 24 per cent among graduates.  It should be remembered that the idle hands of yesterday are the insurgent, killers and kidnappers of today.

In a situation of high rate of employment, such a serious problem according to Prof R.C. Lipsey is best solved by encouraging governments, firms and households to be spend thrifts as much as possible because, other things being equal, the ,ore prodigal and spendthrift the households, the higher will be the level of national income and employment.  Generally, unemployment for any length of time could be sad and soul destroying prolongs unemployment especially among graduates could be an invitation to chaos and general instability in the country.

CENTENARY HONOURS AWARD
Sadly missing in the list are the names of late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, Premier of Western Region who was killed in Army mutiny of 1966, and the mover of Independence Motion in 1957 that ushered in Nigeria‘s Independence in 1960.  Dr. Mike Okpara, former Premier of Eastern Region and Leader of NCNC after Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.   Navy Cdr. Akano (who as a young Lt. lowered the British flag during the Independence celebration in 1960).

In Boxing, Hogan King Bassey was a former commonwealth and world‘s champion.  Chief Simeon Adebo was a distinguished adminisistrator.  Brigadier-General Benjamin Adekunle should not have been left out.   I am sure there are many others which poor record keeping have left out.