Years ago, I had a heated discussion with a lecturer from the geology department of Federal University, Lokoja. The bone of contention was his conclusion that the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan presidency (GEJ) was clueless and useless. My annoyance stemmed from the mere fact that the federal university where he earned his living was established by GEJ. He was also re-echoing the generally accepted falsehood then that GEJ was a drunkard and hardly attended to matters of state. This untrue accusation arose from a stereotype about the men from the riverine areas of the Niger Delta, even though GEJ was and still the most educated and arguably the most accomplished Nigerian president ever. After 5 years of Buhari’s administration’s maladministration and witch-hunting of GEJ, he is still Nigeria’s best definition for a statesman. After half a decade of waiting for change, Nigerians, Africans, and indeed the world now know who is who. Corruption in Nigeria has flourished so much under Buhari’s leadership that there is now competition on who is most corrupt between NNPC, EFCC, NDDC, the Attorney General’s office, and the national assembly.
When Nigeria returned to democracy after years of military rule, Nigerians felt we needed the seemingly effective anti-corruption posture of the Buhari/Idiagbon regime that started the effective War Against Indiscipline (WAI). When Nigerians sensed that the architect of WAI was not Muhammadu Buhari but Tunde Idiagbon, some patriotic citizens started clamoring for Idiagbon to be included in government. Before this clamor could gain more support Idiagbon died in mysterious circumstances that some still believed to be murder. Before the 2015 elections that made Buhari president, many felt corrupt Nigerians would flee Nigeria because Mr. Anticorruption is now president. Unknown to many Buhari is very very corrupt in ways simple-minded Nigerians cannot easily comprehend. Many Nigerians are still trying to mask their disappointment of voting Buhari by saying he is just surrounded by corrupt people. The truth is that these corrupt guys Nigerians now call the cabal are Buhari’s cronies who reflect his true persona. We never knew how corrupt Sani Abacha was until after his death. We will most likely not know how corrupt Buhari is until his demise.
After 5 years of trying to tarnish the image and name of GEJ, a task seconded to Yemi Osinbajo, Buhari has started courting GEJ like a lover because many Nigerians now see Goodluck Jonathan as sincere and trustworthy. After uncovering all the lies of news outlets like Sahara Reporters, the Nation Newspapers, Channels TV interview guests, and others, Nigerians now know they entered a vehicle having one chance filled with criminals. Presently, Goodluck Jonathan has a better reputation than any living Nigerian politician. Nigerians would readily believe a statement from Goodluck Jonathan than from many celebrated religious leaders. The recent show of love by the Buhari’s administration must be scrutinized by Goodluck Jonathan. Giving GEJ access to the presidential air fleet and naming of a landmark after him must not be taken as a friendly gesture. Idiagbon’s experience including fate suffered by others like Engr. Funsho Williams must be a warning memorial to GEJ and those around him. Society needs heroes and role models and GEJ is increasingly filling this bill. In a very corrupt Nigeria where local government chairman and army chiefs own foreign accounts and properties, GEJ’s blackmailers like Yemi Osinbajo and Nasir El Rufai have not found any traceable foreign account to him. This is the kind of reputation Buhari might want to extinguish after losing his reputation especially with the president’s media aide recently likening GEJ and Buhari’s relationship to be like brothers. So, if you are reading this and you have a direct link to former President Goodluck Ebelle Jonathan, please tell him to flee from Muhammadu Buhari before it is too late.
Ata Ukuta, Editor – www.towncryyers.com