GEJ, Traveling and Governance

Introduction

There have been rounds in the media recently of President Goodluck Jonathan’s apparent abscondment to Brazil while the country is mired in conflict and malfeasance. Some have even gone as far as suggesting that he abandoned his duty post to play samba in Rio de Janerio. While this piece is in no way attempting solidarity with the president, it is important to flesh out vivid misconceptions on the subject or discuss.

Behind Time

First of the all the country did not suddenly become inundated with malfeasance, corruption, abuse of office and poverty of governance. It was there before he arrived in Abuja; he played his part in supporting corruption and malfeasance as deputy governor, governor and vice president. There is no evidence that in over a year in office, he is determined to even address the issues talk less of tackling them. He absconded from his moral and constituitional duties to serve the people diligently with due process, ethically and responsibly. He abandoned his responsibility to oversee rich tapestry of positive governance that diminishes PDP-directed corruption. He epitomizes poverty of governance in managing power devoid of the people.

Galivanter-in-chief

The idea that he wriggled his way to dance samba in Rio is very rich in irony. Despite the fact that there is nothing against him traveling to South America, his foray in foreign lands and foreign policy is rather disappointing. When you peruse the caliber of leaders who attended Rio, it was obvious from the beginning that it will be a no-show. The cast list of absentees include Barack Obama of USA, Vladimir Putin of Russia, David Cameron of UK, Hu Jintao of China, Angela Merkel of Germany and Stephen Harper of Canada. The message was disingenuously clear; economy yes, environment no! Unfortunately the disconnect between economy and environment is not clear and simple. Sadly GEJ has never played comfortable in such meets except on West African playground. Nevertheless Nigeria needs the head present at such international no-show, feeble or not.

GEJ must travel without fear or favour. He may not travel only when there is fear of edifice of corruption and malfeasance collapsing. The Vice President will not take over power except in cahoots with US State Department. The same applies with the military. Get your orders from Washington DC and you take Abuja. Actually his presence and absence only matter because it costs the country dearly. Nigeria has lived with a president’s absence or vacuum so GEJ can only be creative and innovative at best.

Above all, Nigeria is not a one-man state. Even satraps of the Gulf ruled by absolute monarchs and totalitarian tyrants run smoothly in temporary absence of their leaders on foreign trips. The Vice-President is capable of making, manage and deliver policy including national security and territorial integrity. The cabinet members should deliver their individual and ministerial obligations without direct physical oversight of the president.

The governors have no inhibition in a federal state to govern their states. Despite their inglorious incompetence, they are legally and morally bound to protect lives and property across their jurisdiction. One must acknowledge that most governors especially in the conflict northern states have become the most stupid entities and examples of wrong-headed leadership.

Conclusion
Finally, the radical truth is that Nigeria is a failed state. It is a genocide state constructed without consent of the people, without the benefit of the people and not for the existence of the people. It is an artificial construct for the benefit of few and pain and death of many. The current leadership at all levels is simple manifestation of cancer of poor leadership. Their presence is counter-productive while their absence from office may offer incentive for constructive people-oriented solutions including dissolution of Nigeria.