Timely advice to GEJ & his putative strategists....from Simon Kolawole!

 

 I have said this before and I would like to repeat myself: it is not in the interest of President Jonathan to lump all his critics together. As a leader, he has to sit down, analyse his critics and their criticisms, arrange them in groups, classify the key issues and work out his actions and reactions appropriately. He sure has millions of critics, like any other leader. People criticise with different motives. People have different agenda even when they are saying the same thing. Unfortunately, you will miss the message when you lump everyone together and respond to every critic and criticism with cynicism and antagonism.


I once identified at least four different categories of Jonathan's critics. In Group A, I placed opposition figures and other political opponents. There is no way APC would come out and praise Jonathan; that is political suicide. They want power. They want his job. Theirs is to say Jonathan or PDP has not done well and that if Nigerians give them a chance, they would do much better. This is a universal characteristic of opposition politics. You can argue that they do not always work with the facts, but what is politicking? PDP would do the same if APC were in power.
In Group B, you have those who lost out in the political game. Many politicians, who supported Jonathan in 2010 and 2011, feel abandoned. They feel like a deflated orange: squeezed, sucked and dumped. They feel Jonathan treated them to a one-night stand, whereas they wanted an affair. Some wanted appointments; others simply desired respect and recognition. But they are bitter that Jonathan jilted them after getting what he wanted. In no time, they became his sworn enemies. I would locate Obasanjo within this group.
In Group C, you have those northerners who are still bitter that Jonathan "hijacked" power after the death of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua in 2010. The north had conceded power to the south in 1999, with the understanding that Obasanjo would do only one term. But Aso Rock was too sweet for him. So PDP agreed to a north/south power rotation every eight years. Unfortunately, Yar'Adau died prematurely. Jonathan took over and refused to let go. To some northerners, there is nothing Jonathan can do to make them happy. Even if he turns northern Nigeria to Dubai, their message is clear: Thank you and just get out of here.
In Group D are those who have neither partisan nor sectional sentiments against Jonathan ─ they are sincerely critical of certain aspects of his stewardship. Jonathan was marketed as a breath of fresh air in 2011. But these critics have been genuinely disturbed at his handling of critical issues such as corruption and Boko Haram. In truth, Jonathan lost a lot of sympathisers with the Chibok schoolgirls saga, which was turned into the "Na Only You Waka Come" tragicomedy in the corridors of power. Now, you cannot group these genuine critics with his political enemies. You cannot put Kolade and APC or Obasanjo in the same category. You will miss the point completely."
Simon Kolawole
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