2011: AP Jonathan’s “defining moment” – Tola Adenle

Thanks to a “fan” who would like  to remain anonymous, I’m blowing up one of the items meant as post scripts for this week into the main essay and have postponed the main essay, “Make we trow way SAN?” till next Sunday.  The “fan” had just come across a posting which I wrote on a website as a comment on a news item that caught my eye during Alhaja Turai Yar Adua’s take-over of government apparatus. “Be aggressive, Danjuma tells Goodluck Jonathan” was the story’s title on SaharaReporters.com and here are excerpts from my blog of March 4, 2010, follow:

“Okay, Good Doctor, I was never a fan because of the way your principal walked on a carpet of blood of slain Nigerians to Aso Rock but I’ve since eaten my words about you never reaching the presidency from YOUR OLD POSITION … on your laps have been thrust an unusual opportunity: to remake Nigeria … confound those of us who naturally lumped you with Alhaji Yar Adua (AYA). You have nothing to lose but a chance to go down as a great hero. Seize the time; ignore the so-called governors’ forum; YOU OWE THEM NOTHING. Tell yourself … that you will not run come next year but give Nigerians a good electoral reform and work on power … This is your time. No godfather put you there but Nigerians’ determined will … Do not worry about any political future because yours is now.”

 The “fan” agreed with my take on why Dr. Jonathan must ignore those clamoring for him to consider running in 2010 but suggested I needed to develop an essay for my readers on the subject.  Perhaps to open my eyes beyond politics, he sent attached a Bible tract from one of the daily Bible readings that Christians read and often pass around.  The passage reminds me of a few ‘Crossroads’ poems I’ve read in the past:  we and others find out more than we or the others know about ourselves – at life’s crossroads … at such junctions, our decisions often define who we are, and the rest of our lives …

People share – among other things –  thoughts of Confucius and spiritual ideas from Hinduism with me from time to time and I’ve often found many of these profound and enriching.  I hope my non-Christian readers would find this excerpt based on an Old Testament material that the reader sent me not only enriching but as being very appropriate in the matter of whether the Acting President should run for president next year, or not.  We are all connected by a common humanity, and so do learn from others, no matter the culture, race or creed.  Here is the material for which the writer chose the theme, “choose for yourselves this day…” from the Book of Joshua, Chapter 24 verse 15:

“… First, in our life, defining moments show us who we really are. Our defining moments usually come as a surprise and happen during times of crisis, such as facing a personal failure; taking an unpopular stand, suffering without complaining; being asked to forgive or making a hard choice. Sometimes, defining moments occur when we don’t see them for what they are. It’s only afterwards, as we look back, that we understand their importance. Either way, they define who we are … defining moments show others who we are. Most days we can wear a mask, but during defining moments we can’t. Our image means nothing. Neither does our resolve or connections. We’ve no time to put a spin on our actions. Whatever is truly inside us is revealed to everyone. As a leader, defining moments tell the people following you who you really are, what you stand for, and why you’re leading.Handled well, a defining moment can bond leaders and followers for life. Handled poorly, it can end your ability to lead. Thirdly, defining moments determine who we will become. You’ll never be the same person after a defining moment. That’s because defining moments are not normal, and what’s ‘normal’ doesn’t work in these times. Defining moments are like intersections in our lives – they give us an opportunity to turn, change direction, and seek a new destination. They present options and opportunities. In these moments, we must choose. And the choice we make will define us!” [Emphasis mine.]

Any addition on my part to these words would be superfluous. 

POST SCRIPTS

Calling Alhaji Adejare Bello [House Speaker] & Osun legislators:   In the name of all Osun citizens, in the name of God, do right by those whose interests you swore to uphold.  PLEASE, do NOT enable Osun to borrow over a whopping US$120m; rise above politics.  No documents from Accountant-General, Finance, etcetera to the committee you selected to look at the loan can tell you what you do not already know: that it’s too late for Brigadier Oyinlola to borrow N18.3 billion; he has under a year left to complete his term.

The Nation on Sunday, April 26, 2009.

UPDATES:  Of course Acting President (AP Jonathan did go on to contest and is now Nigeria’s Number One Citizen and missed that rare opportunity for an African politician: saying ‘yes’ when ‘no’ would not only have shown him to be a great statesman but would have perhaps guaranteed his immortality in Nigeria’s history books.  What’s more, barely in his 50s, a golden-platter opportunity would have presented itself in a not distant future.

Why do I bring this up at this time even though I’m not aware one could have two “defining moments”?  Here is a paragraph from an essay I’m working on for this week.  It is from the Nigerian Government books:

“… in line with the set priorities of their party manifestoes, appointed public servants, such as civil servants and others in the enlarged public service, are forbidden from participating in party politics, at least in Nigeria.  This is in line with the doctrine of neutrality and anonymity which is one of the cardinal principles of the Weberain model of bureaucracy.  It emphasizes insulation of the bureaucrat as the subordinate expert advisor … in order to  … enable the provision of impartial advice and curtail the culture of impunity and arbitrariness in government.”

President Jonathan, what next will bring Nigeria to disrepute but which would lie within your power to avert but you would go ahead and let it happen?

This refers to the matter of Mrs. Patience Jonathan being elevated “to the position of permanent secretary, a farce that stinks.  I’m  sure Ms. Jonathan is the world’s first First Lady who got elevated in her former civil service position while actively campaigning and showing her commitment and support to the PDP.

2.  As for Osun, we all know Adejare Bello and others did drop the ball and retired Brigadier Oyinlola did take the loan.  What the money was used for, none can tell.  Meanwhile, Osun is burdened with a huge debt portfolio while Oyinlola is Secretary – or so I read – of the most profligate party perhaps the world has ever known.  The last I read, PDP low-level “chieftains” are mad as hell about the fat salaries the likes of Oyinlola, PDP chairman, et al. have awarded themselves.

As I’ve written zillions of times since retired General Obasanjo’s second term in 2003, the PDP is Nigeria’s worst nightmare come to reality.