Last Sunday, 15th March, 2015, I was at the #GEJWINSIT event in Abuja. Below is the speech which I was to deliver at the programme but could not due to time constraint; I had only five minutes and decided to just speak from my heart.
Ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
Our nation, Nigeria, is truly unique and special in several
ways. Our uniqueness lies in our natural resources, history, culture,
diversity, the exuberance of our great people and, most importantly, our peculiar
God-ordained destiny as a country.
The popular saying today that Africa is shaped like a
pistol pointed down with Nigeria positioned as its trigger was actually part of
a Prophecy given the last missionary to Nigeria in the 1930s, Pa S. G. Elton of
blessed memory. Pa Elton was a British Missionary who lived for over fifty
years in Ilesa, Osun State. He spoke those words in 1983 at a Conference in
Limuru, Kenya.
The renaissance of Africa is tied to the destiny of
Nigeria. Nigeria is the Trigger of Africa. The rising of Nigeria will affect
the entire continent. And the reverse is also true. This sobering thought is
one more reason why Nigeria must not fail.
The Grace of God is manifestly upon Nigeria. It is God’s
Grace that has kept us one despite the many challenges that have threatened to
break the country apart. We survived a civil war; we survived the June 12
Crisis; we resolved the militancy in the Niger Delta; and we are overcoming
Boko Haram. We have put the years of military rule behind us and democracy has
come to stay. But we have a duty not to frustrate the Grace which God has so
abundantly bestowed on us. There are evil forces contending for the very soul
of our nation and their satanic agenda must be defeated.
The emergence of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Nigeria’s
President was by Divine Providence. He rose to leadership of the nation in 2010
manifestly not by dint of his personal efforts. His electoral victory in 2011
was also relatively an easy ride. Understandably, the Presidential contest this
time is more intense but there should be no doubt as to whom most Nigerians
would have sworn-in as President on 29th May, 2015: President
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Ph.D., GCFR.
There is empirical evidence that President Goodluck
Jonathan has performed remarkably well. No one can in good conscience deny the
enviable strides he has attained in many areas despite the huge obstacles he
has had to overcome. The positive outcomes of the Transformation Agenda are
manifest in several sectors of the economy. Take, for instance, the issue of
roads development and maintenance. Those of us who often travel on the
Ore-Benin Road know the difference. Gone are the days when one had to make
detours through the bush to avoid huge portions of the road which were not passable.
I still recall a particular trip where I spent about fifteen (15) hours to get
from Lagos to Uromi in Edo State. Now, I can make the journey in about five
hours. And this is the case in many areas around the country.
The giant strides in the agricultural
sector cannot be overlooked. We have seen tremendous increase in the local
production of food crops such that our import bill has reduced considerably.
From a total food import bill of N1.1Trillion
($6.9Billion) as at 2009, Nigeria’s food import bill reduced to N684.7Billion ($4.35Billion) as at
December, 2013. Progress is being made in the power sector which has undergone
reforms. Nigerians now see the prospects of stable electricity supply such that
in a couple of years we can actually take it for granted. The rejuvenation of
our long abandoned railway sector is another area of amazing transformation
which must be applauded. The improvements in our airports are equally evident.
In the education sector, one can readily point to the establishment of more
universities and the introduction of the Almajiri Model Schools as some of the
more noteworthy initiatives of the Jonathan Administration.
Perhaps an often-overlooked but compelling argument for
the President’s second term is his impact in stabilising and entrenching
democratic practice in Nigeria. Since 2011, the electoral process has been free
of manipulation by the Federal Government. President Jonathan has shown that he
is not interested in influencing the outcomes of elections and he has been
quick to congratulate candidates of opposition parties who won Gubernatorial
elections conducted during the period. It is obvious that for him, winning
elections is not a “do-or-die” affair and he has said so many times. It is indeed
interesting that it is this atmosphere for credible elections shaped by the
President’s disposition that has emboldened the major opposition party to even
think it has a chance to win the upcoming Presidential Election.
Today, we have come to take for granted the liberties we
enjoy as Nigerians. No one is afraid to air his/her views. Freedom of speech
(and freedom after speech!) is a reality in Nigeria. It is to President
Jonathan’s credit that no one is harassed or intimidated for holding opinions which
are at variance with the government’s.
The President’s unusual capacity to tolerate opponents is alien to our
political history and culture. And no civilian government in Nigeria has ever
had more vocal opponents as is the case today. Indeed, some of the views of the
opponents of government actually border on sedition and were clearly
orchestrated to be provocative.
What has engendered this clement atmosphere is the
President’s persona. Decades of militarisation had foisted on Nigeria a
political leadership which is essentially domineering and authoritarian.
Political leadership became synonymous with bravado and forceful expressions of
power. Indeed, to be perceived as a strong leader, many politicians have felt
they needed to be loud, impetuous, abrasive, manipulative, and even brutal.
Leadership was about the “strong man”.
President Goodluck Jonathan has redefined the essence of
what it means to be a Nigerian leader. He has shown that humility is not a
weakness. His humility is genuine; evidently not pretentious. Even his
opponents acknowledge this much. He has no airs. He is authentic. He is
down-to-earth. He is real. It takes uncommon character not to succumb to the
temptation of pride induced by the vestiges of power.
The President’s cool and calm nature has had a salutary effect on the polity. He has
maintained steely calmness in many trying situations when it appeared things
would fall apart. He is a peaceful man and a man of peace. He is a worthy model
to our youths and all who aspire to lead. He is an asset to our nation.
Nigeria needs a leader like President Jonathan even more
at this critical juncture in our march to greatness. We should be grateful that
we have a leader at the helms who God has gifted with sure, stable and safe
hands, who can keep our ship of state on course. Nigeria must continue to go
forward with confidence. And with God’s help, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan
will keep Nigeria moving forward.
Ladies and Gentleman, fellow countrymen, let us ensure
that come Saturday, 28th March, 2015, we give our President the
votes to keep our great nation on the path of peace and progress.
God bless President Goodluck Jonathan.
God bless Nigeria!
NIGERIA DI FURE!
IT WILL BE WELL WITH NIGERIA!!
