Tanimomo’s Piece of Mind (TPoM): Exemplary Bastardization of The Favour-Phenomenon à la Jonathan!
by ahjotnaija
Mr. Tanimomo is a scholar resident in Germany. He guest-blogs on http://www.ahjotnaija.wordpress.com He is author of the popular bi-weekly: Tanimomo’s Piece of Mind (TPoM).
While the story of his non-possession of shoes was helpful to clinching the presidency in the last General Election, however sublime it was, another motif that ran through the victory story of President Jonathan in the 2011 presidential election is the theme of (G)goodluck and favour. So we heard that our good president swam in goodluck right from his primary school where he *goodluckily* toppled his head-boy. He repeated a comparable feat in his secondary school and enjoyed comparably same good fate in the Bayelsa state house. He must have the magic wand and this was quite easy to believe with his *Breath of Fresh Air Message*. It is now almost three years into his tenure as the president and history bears witness; this presidency has strayed into the darkest moments of our collective existence as a country.
Nigeria’s economy may be the largest in Africa – and I do not think the president should be thanked for that, thanked be those teeming young entrepreneurs who dare the odds and take risks to venture into the murky waters of business in Nigeria. Fact is, poverty, wanton indulgence and insecurity are the hallmarks of President Jonathan’s administration. This government will be a best runner-up should there exist a tabular placement of the most corrupt governments in Nigeria; his administration only trails closely after the brutal and corrupt regime of General Sani Abacha. It even becomes worse when his first lady assumes administrative responsibilities and decides to question civil servants on matters that her husband refused to tackle as the Commander-in-Chief-of-the -Armed Forces.
Unfortunately, it is not only the economy, among other sector and issues that suffers as a result of the Jonathan presidency, Nigeria’s and Nigerians’ psychology suffers too! Hard work, a virtue which was once held in high esteem among Nigerians of different faiths and beliefs, has been watered down due to the *goodluckyed* election of the president. Truth be said: the corruption of this virtue did not start with his presidency. It was only further and alarmingly worsened by his *goodluckyed* victory into the presidency.
There is that feeling of I-don’t-need-to-be-good-at-all to get to that position up there and when I seem to be overwhelmed by the duties and challenges of the office, Nigerians must understand because I am basking in God’s favour.
Favour is not for the lazy! Actually, President Jonathan did not get to the presidency as a result of favour, he rode on the gullibility, docility and naivety of Nigerians!
We celebrate mediocrity all in the guise that the president is humble and God-chosen due to the circumstances that led to his emergence as president. It still beats my imagination on how after the president’s catastrophic actions and inactions, Nigerians still resort to *God will deliver us!*.
Has God not delivered us? When exactly are we going to act our parts of the deliverance? When are we going to tell Mr. President that he might have rode to the highest office on the backs of luck and gullibility, it is high time he sat down and worked!
In the Biblical-lore, when the ark of God was going to be built, Moses, The Prophet, was instructed to contact particular people who were SKILLED in the craft. The Biblical deity did not rely on favour to get the job done. He sought for the best.
Let me ask: do you because of the fact that you are favoured stay at home when looking for a job, waiting for the job to come meet you at home? Some folks visit uncles countless times to remind him of the job he promised to help get! We have heard stories of others who slept with bosses to get jobs! If some can go that far to get a job that will feed them, then why can’t Nigerians give even more for a far more credible course, i.e. To the process of electing responsible and duty-conscious politicians into offices. This concerns us more; this is a process that affects present and future generations of Nigerians.
Let the hypocrisy stop. Our hands need be put to the plough more responsibly. The bad men must be told in clear terms of their dirty and terrible ways. Nigerians must show them the red card!
The bastardization of FAVOUR must stop! The truth is the current president is inept and this is a democracy, not a theocracy. A (wo-)man is at the helm of affairs for a reason. The truth must be upheld at all times and due process followed. Only then will Nigeria’s unborn children not loudly curse the past and this present generations over a destitute country that we (shall) leave behind for them to battle with!
ajagunna 