It is undoubted that the activities
of the Boko Haram sect seem to dwarf the laudable achievements of President
Goodluck Jonathan. This is as a result of the mindless and incessant killings
of Nigerians. All these unwarranted killings have caused Nigerians to hold the
notion that President Goodluck Jonathan is incapable and inefficient to handle
the affairs of the country. Some Nigerians who are ignorant of democracy compares
it with military regimes where only the head of state takes decision on behalf
of all; had laid the entire blame on President Jonathan on the continued
malevolent activities of the Boko Haram insurgents.
To these ignoramuses, since
President Jonathan is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, it behoves on
him to ensure the security of life and property are guaranteed across the
country. To Nigerians in this school of thought, since insecurity still reigns
in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, President Jonathan is not doing anything and
a monumental failure; this is a fallacy anyway.
The above assertion is never the
reality on ground as President Jonathan is doing marvellously well. Apart from the
unjustified civil war, no administration has ever witnessed such a formidable
security challenges as being confronted by President Jonathan. Terrorism is a
global phenomenon which can never be combated in a trice. The Boko Haram insurgency
is daunting because apart from the international dimension to terrorism there
is also division among Nigerians along ethnic, religious and regional lines.
This has also factionalized the nation’s security agencies along same lines;
hence some give their allegiance to their tribes, religions, regions and
political parties instead of to the country.
It must be stated unequivocally
that President Jonathan as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces does not
have to go to the war front to confront the insurgents before the terrorists
can be crushed. No Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces fights in a war as
being demanded by some Nigerians. The Commander in Chief only gives orders
through his service chiefs on how to overcome the insurgents but it is left for
the men of the armed forces to execute such orders. But if they consider their ethnic,
political, religious and regional affiliations at the detriment of the larger
society, unarguably there is nothing the President who is the Commander in
Chief of the Armed Forces can do. Any nation that has the armed forces divided
along ethnic, political, religious and regional lines will find it tiresome to
overcome insurgents; this is why the Boko Haram insurgency remains intractable.
President Jonathan can never be held accountable for the monstrous doings of
the Boko Haram sect; President George W. Bush was not held responsible for the bombings
of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon in America as President Jonathan is
being demonised and humiliated for the sins of the Boko Haram sect!
It should be made clear that
President Jonathan was instrumental to the Amnesty Programme that returned
peace to the Niger Delta region. The Amnesty Programme that commenced on August
6, 2009 has led to the increase and continue production of crude oil; the major
source of revenue generation in the country. If militancy had continued in the
Niger Delta and there was no money to run the government coupled with the Boko
Haram insurgents in the north, by now the country would have disintegrated and
gone into oblivion.
A profound observation of the agricultural
sector shows that this sector of the economy has been revamped; an improvement
occasioned by direct distribution of fertilizers to the farmers. This is unlike
what transpired in previous administrations when money bags hijacked
fertilizers and exported them to neighbouring countries for sale at exorbitant
prices to the detriment of the real farmers.
This was why in spite of the devastating floods that occurred in the
country in 2012 and the continued heartless doings of the Boko Haram insurgents,
the country did not witness food shortage or famine! Despite the remarkable performance
in the agricultural sector; making foods available in abundance, some Nigerians
say nothing is being done by Mr. President simply because of the activities of
Boko Haram. In spite of the floods in 2012 and the brutish activities of the
Boko Haram sect, prices of food items have remained stable. Additionally, the
aviation sector has also witnessed measurable improvement owing to the
remodelling of the various airports across the country.
President
Goodluck Jonathan has successfully privatized the Power Holding Company
of Nigeria (PHCN), leading to the emergence of five Generation Companies (GENCOs)
and ten Distribution Companies (DISCOs). Some unspecified numbers of Transmission
Companies (TRANCOs) also emerged from the unbundling of PHCN. Though, the
positive effects of these electricity companies are not being felt presently,
in the near distant future, Nigerians will begin to enjoy regular and
stabilized electricity supply. Just as it was in the telecommunication sector
when it was newly deregulated, services were erratic but today the reverse is
the case; Nigerians can now make phone calls from the comfort of their bedrooms
across the globe with ease.
Nigerians seem not to see the
notable achievements of President Jonathan all because of the bestial activities
of the Boko Haram sect as they daily receive deluge of reports about killings
of innocent fellow-Nigerians. However, to say that the administration of President
Jonathan has not done anything or it is not doing anything is a fallacy and
mischievous on the part of those who hold this view.
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