Silence, it is said is the best answer to a fool but it also a connotes victory, failure or rejection of a given circumstance.
Silence could inflame or restore peace over a situation either in a state, organization or household. There are issues that demand immediate response while others may not since every matter has its weight and implications.
The matter as it concerns the 2015 general polls, the ranting of some political parties and the silence of the number one citizen of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan GCFR deserves no comments at this time.
The political parties, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC) have made lots of derogatory statements against Mr. President and his Political Platform, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), yet with little or no better responses, a welcome development indeed as observers concluded.
The actions of the President was applauded by most Nigerians as it becomes imperative to moving the country forward and ignoring certain unprofitable comments.
In this episode, Issues Abattoir intends to examine the progressive nature of the chief occupant of the Aso rock villa irrespective of the many distracting forces and the essence of letting governance thrive since governance could not be slaughtered on the alter of personal interest at the detriment of the citizenry.
Recently, in Abuja the House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Agriculture had applauded President Goodluck Jonathan for moving the nation forward especially the efforts made in the area of Agriculture. A situation that was a setback to many because of the ways and manners the APC goes about in running down the government. The House chairman affirmed that he would say and do what is good, as no APC member would accord such recognition to the president.
Some parts of the nation have been embowled in war of words over the up coming 2015 general elections and the possibilities of the APC taking over the country. One thing is questionable in the ways these issues are handled across the nation, because its violent nature is such that is considered as “ranting”.
Activities of the APC in Nigeria is similar to that of its former Action Congress (AC) counterpart as violence, war of words, propaganda were some of its strategies.
According to Alhaji Shekarawu a former chieftain of the APC, now in PDP, the party have no direction and structure, and does not posses any quality of leadership. Shekarawu who defected to the PDP few days ago was the immediate past governor of Kano State who thought the APC could provide a better leadership for Nigeria. In his private and collective findings, he discovered that the answers of moving the nation to greater height lies with the PDP.
It is not the first time a political party is ranting, threatening and breathing like a wounded lion, but to no avail in Nigeria.
The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and others did same, so the noise of the combined opposition could be regarded as their lifestyle.
Currently, the attack on the 2014 National budget, screening of service chiefs and all that, have become the opposition struggle against the government.
Ordinarily, how does it sound to hear that someone who leaves a particular house considered to be filthy and unaccommodating would want to go away with the title he acquired from the dirty house? If the PDP is a filthy and dirty house, members of the House of Representatives and Senate especially the office holders who are defecting to the APC should do that and let their portfolios be with the PDP, a platform with which they gain such.
The noise of taking over the country from the ruling PDP is such that many who wishes to be deceived are no longer having night rest but joined in the deceit. On Tuesday Feb 4th, 2014 a man on a phone in programme on the 92.3fm Nigeria-Info said he was prophesying that in 2015 Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State would become the President of Nigeria.
The man’s comment which was even outside the discussion line called to mind the observation of a lecturer at the international institute of journalist (IIJ), Port Harcourt centre.
According to the lecturer who applauded the 92.3 Nigeria info, “The programme is a commendable one because it reveals both the intelligent and non-intelligent beings”.
Some Nigerians, other than proffering solutions to the economic, social and real political development of the country, are saddled with how to unseat the sitting president with all sorts of propaganda.
The truth is, if even the president lost his job today, God forbid, he has been established and remains a former president and better still more responsible than most of those castigating him.
The biblical injunction, to pray for those in authority has met the brick walls in some parts of Nigeria because betrayal, selfishness. Loss of confidence and thought of overnight enrichment has beclouded many.
Silent, according to Gedds & Grosset (2007) is “not speaking, taciturn, noiseless and still”.
Many have branded Mr. President as “too weak to govern Nigeria” but its incumbent to know that the silence of Mr. President could not only literarily suggests an adjective to force his victory in as much as criticisms are allowed in a system, but to also project what governance is all about.
Whether it is habitually or administrative, silence of the number one citizen of Nigeria could be a ploy and plot to do what is needful.
Though yet to break his silence on any issue, the president is cleverly handling issues that keeps the country on irrespective of unfounded criticisms, name calling and what have you.
The recent screening of the service chiefs by the joint National Assembly committee on Defence was an eye opener which the opposition could not believe but looking for a way to redefined ‘blockage of presidential or executive bills.
As if the screening was nothing to go by the debate on the 2014 budget had already commenced. Rather than the president quarreling with the lawmakers, he appealed to them to expedite action in passing the budget, which action is already on to that effect. The bill is now at the committee stage having passed through the second reading at Senate.
For those acclaimed progressives, what does it mean to be progressive; adding or gaining more membership of a mean status to their fold, working and walking without political base or dinning with more devils? The time is just too short to reveal the identity of everyone.
The many progress made so far by the sitting president His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR, in the heat of stiff opposition is such applauded by citizens and non citizens alike.
Nigeria is the giant of Africa and the PDP is the ruling Political Party in Nigeria as well as the largest in Africa hence, in all these opposition and subsequent triumph of President Jonathan, it is indeed the progression of the giant in the warlike zone.
Meanwhile, whether the PDP is not what its used to be or known, as seen and said by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Nigerians should not take him serious because he is known for defecting and re-defecting, it could be his hobby in defecting to political parties in search of his selfish interest.
Let it be place on record, that Atiku Abubakar would someday re-defect to PDP with another lie or reason. He left PDP to ACN to contest against Obasanjo and back to contest against President Jonathan in PDP yet could not excel. He has gone again now, he will definitely return when the real time will come.
Before ending this episode, it is imperative to state that, every success in life has its temptations, trials and challenges. Therefore, the Challenges of President Jonathan should not be viewed as something insurmountable rather the biblical injunction of praying for the leaders should be adhered to. ###
With James Mgboineme
Jamesprojectgodwin@yahoo.com.