Onyebuchi Onyegbule
He started from Facebook to Eagle Square to present himself for continued service to the nation as President. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan (GLEAJ) is his name. The turnout was intimidating, the pomp scintillating. But after all these, what next? Will the captivating big-hip-shake and the alluring speeches translate to a vote-win? There are three areas to look at. The first is the Department of Jonathan. This is a review of the man’s character-worth, its value content and how best he can use it. During the turbulent days of President Yar’Adua’s ill-health and the uncertainties surrounding his recovery, Jonathan displayed composure, cool-headedness, subdued ambition and eye-on-duty traits. We are aware of
overt attempts to decode and possibly nail him through such provocations as deploying the military in darkness to move Yar’Adua from the airport to an undisclosed destination without the knowledge of his vice. His response was to delete anger from his response portfolio to enable him see and navigate appropriately. He spoke little but listened much. In the end, he wasn’t decoded and everybody played along. Considering the inflammable situation, his reaction saved Nigeria anxious moments. This is far more important than the popular hype of stabilizing petroleum price. Because we didn’t see the flames, many would not know the import of that behavioral strength just as many Americans didn’t understand the impact of Obama’s Stimulus Package that prevented a collapse which a spanning Cold War couldn’t for the bare reason that they didn’t experience the obvious, tearing economic depression. Such is the nature of thankless fits. Jonathan acted outside the precincts of politics, indeed, from the realm of duty and sensitivity and could well qualify as a good manager of tension. Nigeria needs such character-worth to launch out.
In the days ahead, more of such tests will be on slate. Any magnanimity he shows to his opponents, any accommodation or advise will definitely add, not take away from his character-picture in the public mind. This is not the time to heed the advice of hawks who prefer to go for the opponents’ jugular like in the past. But in doing this also, he must demonstrate firmness and avoid feeble compromises that weaken rather than strengthen. That will be an example of fairness in strength. The country needs it.
The next is the Pressure Department. They have been doing well but pressure alone is not enough. Its content and quality of coordination count. There you need a conflict expert who can level the hills and raise the valleys to create a highway to somewhere. The worst that can happen to this department is for cracks to be noticed, in the midst of a cut-throat competition. This is exactly where the opponents will be looking at. Most shrug at Babangida but the real danger is Atiku. He knows he can’t be president but he can create chasms with his avalanche of seduced loyalties, splash of wealth and the fire of vengeance against those who doused him in the last outing. But he can be contained if the thinking machine of GLEAJ is finger-on-button. Not just this, the same skirmish he’s expert in can be driven to his own domain. It’s only knowing how. If the northern PDP collapses into Saraki, then they’d have boxed themselves into a corner. In all these, this department has to play fair; don’t insult or disparage anybody but bring arguments clear for choice.
We turn to the Underground Department. Great work has been done here. The declaration rally and sign-ins attest to it. But that is the beginning of the work, to keep them is another. Many sitting governors are not sure of their return ticket. In some cases, they face damning opposition back home. But this is not a time for cracks. Where it is impossible for such governors to return, they have to be assured of where to go from here to keep everybody in the train. Here you need well-meaning, trustable and astute negotiators. Trade-offs have to be made and scheme-offs avoided. The other are the political Czars who see themselves as shot-callers. Motto: Don’t threaten them in any way and if possible, involve them but watch out too. To complement this, it’s not advisable to engage in inter-zonal open negotiations at this stage as recently convened betwe
en the S/South-North. Caucusing is the answer not plenary. Remember, suspicion is high and zoning-controversy tense. If GLEAJ’s brain-box is aware of my earlier advice on a political base, then they should constitute a South-South/Southeast negotiating team for future plenary sessions. This gives a picture of a broad-based arrangement that can douse tension and make accommodation easier. Hope these tidbits can help. All the best.
