Opinion: Reassessing president Jonathan’s leadership options

But for last week's ill-fated multiple bomb blasts at a relaxation spot in the ever-busy Sabon-Gari area of the ancient city of Kano which resulted in several deaths, it would have been celebration galore that Nigeria is gradually winning the war against insurgency. Sadly, that expectation was aborted by enemies of mankind and those whose past-time is to visit terror and horror on fellow human beings. In their warped thinking, their mission is to frustrate the commendable efforts of the security agencies through murderous acts of bombing and killings, forgetting that they are only heaping curses and eternal punishment on themselves.

That the present administration of President Goodluck Jonathan has taken bold steps in its efforts to stamp out terrorism and put the nation on the path of development through sound economic blueprint is to restate the obvious. Undoubtedly, such efforts, with particular reference to the declaration of state of emergency in the troubled states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe and the setting up of the Tanimu Turaki-led peace and reconciliation committee are some of the positive results so far witnessed.

Interestingly, there seem to be a change in the way and manner issues of national concern are approached and handled by this present administration. We are witnessing an era whereby government has deliberately chosen to partner with those with opposing views and dissenting voices by inviting them over for healthy and constructive dialogue, rather than branding them enemies of government. This healthy development, no doubt, is a plus for the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and an indication that governance has been demystified. The administration, in line with her new style of governance has realised the critical role of opposition elements in the effective running of government anywhere around the world.

Another area Mr President appears to be scoring first in the way and manner he reaches out to politicians perceived to be at loggerheads with him or those termed as filth columnists. Mr President has indeed been presidential and statesmanly in calming frayed nerves as well as  taking punches from all spheres with equanimity. To a large extent, in line with his resolve to focus attention on developmental issues instead of wasting time on trivialities, efforts are been strengthened to deliver dividends of democracy to Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or political persuasion in record time.

His recent closed door meeting with five governors from the north is indeed a clear demonstration of his resolve to carry everyone along in the onerous tasking of realizing the Nigeria of our collective dreams and aspirations. The meeting was part of moves to foster peace and deliberate on ways of consolidating on the success so far achieved in the fight against terrorism in the north. The meeting which lasted for hours had in attendance Governors Muazu Babangida Aliyu, Niger, Murtala Nyako, Adamawa,  Ibrahim Gaidam, Yobe, and Kashim Shettima, Borno.  Though no official statement was issued at the end of the meeting, we all know that it was aimed at finding lasting solutions to myriad of developmental challenges confronting the north in particular and the country in general.

Though many were quick to have branded the move as political and purely PDP's gimmick, but the deliberate inclusion of Governors Ibrahim Gaidam and Shettima both elected under the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in the team showed that the meeting was never a PDP arrangement. Mr President has since realised that he was elected to serve as President of all Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion, political and idealogical leaning.

Even in the ongoing media-hyped war between the President and the Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, President Jonathan has rather chosen to refrain from joining issues with those who are of the view that he is the unseen face behind the political crisis threatening to tear Rivers State into shreds. Recently, he displayed to the chagrin of all that he holds no grudge against Rotimi Amaechi when Mr President openly embraced Amaechi and pat him on the back. He knows his position and recognises that undisputed fact that he is the father of the nation.

In President Goodluck Jonathan, we see a leader that believes strongly in the fact that the only permanent thing in this world is change. And that all beings and their activities are subject to change. He represents that change that Nigeria is in dire need of. This, he has demonstrated by subjecting his programmes and actions to public scrutiny and criticisms. He desires to leave behind an economically viable, politically stable and technologically savvy country. It is about our fatherland, not personal or parochial considerations.

This new thinking and modus operandi places immense emphasis on what benefits the country and its teeming population, rather than how to enrich a few individuals. It is about putting aside our perceived or imagined differences and making ambitious efforts to achieve our collective goal of leaving our country better than we met it.

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