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 Published
August 3rd, 2010
President Jonathan recently expressed that should he declare his
candidacy now either in the positive or negative towards the
2011 Presidential election, his statements could ignite
instant political readiness in others including the
Governors.
The President noted that some of them could quickly take
their respective stand with regard to their candidacy for
the next round of elections. What is wrong with such move,
Sir?
That is the way it should be in any right thinking
democratic society. What has your active or inactive
declaration got to do with a State government and a
Ministerial agency in terms of governmental functioning on
behalf of the people?
Why a ministerial or any other governmental work should,
becomes suddenly inactive because the political season is
on?
Sir, this concern of yours, while it could correctly
validate the sentimental nature of Nigeria’s political
mindset and state, it also shows the picture of a society
with lack of political commonsense and directions.
Sir, the fact that you expressed grave concern about the
possibility of the shortage of functional output in
government work during election activities, sends an awful
message to any person who believes he or she is capable of
simultaneously and efficiently handling any line of multiple
tasks including running for office and serving the people.
Sir, don’t say Oh, that is “Oyibo” or the White peoples’
way, no it is the commonsense human way! Since, the affairs
to a nation must go on irrespective of the political and
electoral climate at the time.
Sir, if this type of thinking is part of your defense games
or mechanisms, you need a better line of operative,
seductive and influencing defenses that will cause
convincing reactions from the people.
Mr. President, heating up the political pot of any
democratic election is diametrically even with the impulse
of presidential debate and energy.
Sir, admits your rationalizations, it is time to unload on
the people, a yes or no answer as to your candidacy in the
2011 Presidency.
It will show you have nothing to hide, and further that you
certainly have confidence in the Nigerian polity in terms of
its maturity to leave the cycle of governmental functioning
intact.
Sir, declare now as there is bound to be some degree of
distraction any time to fully focusing on office work by
incumbent Governors or other officials running in during an
election cycle.
Your declaration today or tomorrow will in fact reduce the
level of distractions towards the spirit of active
governance which you tend to be attributing to other public
officials and offices.
Sir, a more aggressive body of advisers will tell you that
with the time highly limited and against you with regard the
2011 presidential election, the apparent waiting game of
yours could on a personal level allow you to assess the
people’s relationship to possible opponents of yours. But at
the same time, this tactics could backfire.
Sir, there is very, very minimum time for the Chairman of
Elections, Attahiru Jega to fully carry out voters
registration, direct the political parties and
constituencies’ with political education and position the
necessary infrastructure in regards to the workability of
the voting machines as well as maintaining full security.
Sir, with the political and electoral atmospheres lacking
adequate time to adjust to an already fierce, bamboozled and
misunderstood social surroundings, political turbulence
could set in which may attract the need for security by and
means possible.
Sir, in your own words, the world is watching the continued
state of ambivalence on your part, no matter the strategy
you may be employing in this election cycle.
Sir, what is clear here, is the question about your state of
self confidence, possibly in the collective mind of all
Nigerians and in the view of the global world.
Sir, if the assumption by some that your current silence is
a sign that you may be equally waiting for an opening from a
native doctor, a prophet or a divine path from God, pray for
the message to come real fast. The time is now.
John Egbeazien Oshodi, Ph.D , DABPS, FACFE, is a
Forensic/Clinical Psychologist and the Interim Associate
Dean of Academic Affairs--Behavioral Science, North Campus,
Broward College, Coconut Creek, Florida.
joshodi@broward.edu
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