Jonathan: The Mid-Term Scorecard...

His rise to the number one position in the land might have been eased by a sleight of good luck, but two years after in the seat of power, the president 'once without shoes,' must have learned that good luck alone does not translate to success and steady progress. Not only is the burden of the office taking it's toll on him, president Jonathan must have now learned of the pandora's box, that is leadership. Faced by the peculiar plague that is Boko Haram, his two years presidency have come to be defined by his reactive approach to the menace. It is true that his presidency is unfortunate to be the first in our turf to wrestle with such evil, but leadership is not a call for pity party. It requires proactiveness, decisiveness and effectiveness; features that have been in short supply in this current administration. On occasions too numerous to rehash, the Jonathan presidency have lacked the will and efficiency to pursue their policies to completion. The change of the Power minister from Barth Nnaji to Chinedu Nebo is yet to heal the epilepsy in that sector. The economy is not faring too well, as foreign debts continue to skyrocket. Unemployment rate is at an all time high. Needless to say, the scourge of corruption continues to reign supreme. That Farouk Lawal and Femi Otedola are still roaming around the streets, despite their obvious corrupt practices, says a lot of the so called fight against corruption. Perhaps, the only sector that seems to be a beacon of light, appears to be the Agricultural sector under the watchful eyes of Akinwunmi Ayo Adesina. What is more? A worrying trend that has become an hallmark of the Jonathan regime so far, is the bickering, witch-hunting and dictatorial tendencies that the regime has displayed. If it's not Reuben Abati pouring venom on the critics, it is Doyin Okupe attacking anyone that dared to speak against the policies of his boss. And the garrulous cum ranting nature of the Information minister, Labaran Maku, has now become legendary. It is true that the need for constructive criticisms cannot be ignored, but it is even more of a truism that all sorts of criticisms, irrespective of intents, must be accommodated. Also, the administration might claim innocence in the current travails of the embattled Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, but we are not so gullible not to see the truth. Conclusively, a verdict by the jury on the Jonathan presidency might be hasty, but the half way point, leaves plenty to be desired.

Desperate Times For President Jonathan...

It is a government that is least known for it's proactive nature, and many of us have come to endure it's mediocrity, with a fading optimism that 2015 will finally usher in the watershed. In an obvious show of brevity, albeit belated, President Goodluck Jonathan declared a State of Emergency in the volatile states of Yobe, Borno and Adamawa. It cannot be a mere oversight that Kano was missing from that list, but one can spare the presidency the blemish, after all, he is acting on information afforded him by his security experts. It is no gainsaying that this current display of stern by the current government should have come much earlier. Perhaps, the carnage will have been curtailed. However, it is better late than never. This current development makes a crass mockery of the entire amnesty program that is proving to be a voyage in futility. Suffice it to say, it will be sheer fool hardiness for anyone to view Jonathan's declaration as being politically motivated. Desperate times requires desperate measures. Yet, it remains to be seen how the brutality of the army will live side by side with the civility of a political rule in these states. At times like this, all hands must be on deck. The army must be thoroughly professional in carrying out their assignment in these states, and every stake holders involved must work towards ensuring that we end this madness once and for all. We can barely afford any more time for shameless bickering as a nation. The Nigeria project currently hinges on fragility, and the consequences could be dire.

The Politics Of Witch-Hunting: Lessons For Amaechi

Except you are too gullible and prone to believe that the unhealthy relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi is only a war of attrition, there is certainly more to the rift. First, is the tussle for power. The pair wields enormous influence in their respective quarters, but it is the persistent actions of the president to prove a political point to a man who he perceives to be too unruly at best, and a threat at least. This is not an attempt to analyze all the protracted issues enmeshed in the plot, for we may never know exactly when things began to fall apart between the pair. However, this is an attempt to make Amaechi know that in such a war between the little guy and the echelon of power, history suggest that the latter almost always have the last laugh. Make no mistake about it, Amaechi's brevity and penchant to take a swipe at the excesses of the powers that be, must be admired. It was obvious that the creation of the PDP Governors Forum out of the NGF, was mainly an attempt to undermine Amaechi's influence. Then, there was the infuriating story of the governor's aircraft and all the surrounding issues it has generated. In all these, Amaechi has remained dauntless. But, being dauntless against such forces comes with a price. And in this part of the world, the price might be dire. The governor's detractors are beginning to multiply among the political ranks, though he might be winning the vociferous support of the opposition, he can't regard such goodwill as a plus. The reasonable advice for Amaechi is for him to take it easy from here on, and work on burying the hatchet. Otherwise, he could take the stance of a hero against the forces, and if history is anything to go by, he will end up becoming a political loss. The plot is already thickened, and only time will tell when all these will end. With 2015 on the horizon, Amaechi and Jonathan cannot afford any political bruises that could jeopardize their lofted ambitions.