As Jonathan hands over to Jonathan

On Sunday May 27th 2011, President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan took the oath of office at a colourful ceremony in the Nation's capital, Abuja.  Whether the name "Azikiwe" is actually in his passport or purely used to win the South Eastern votes during the last general elections is a debate I would really like to have- but definitely not today. Albeit, his demure demeanour has become his greatest asset. GEJ, as he is now fondly referred to, began his ascension to the exalted position of President on December 11th, 2005. On this beautiful Friday, his boss and former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Solomon Peter Alamieyeseigha, was impeached, handcuffed and flown to Abuja, thereby paving way for him constitutionally to be sworn in as Governor. While some deputy governors would have thrown parties and held thanksgiving services to celebrate this "good luck", one media house reported that Goodluck locked himself away and broke down in tears. He must have wondered how a man he had served as deputy for seven years was being whisked away while he took over his post. By February 2007, he was picked by Obasanjo to become the vice- presidential candidate to Umaru Yar'Ádua. This singular act paved his emergence as the Vice president, Acting President and thereafter President after the demise of his principal. This perhaps sums what some people have termed Goodluck's mysterious rise to become Nigeria's president.

 

The most striking aspect of Goodluck's rise to power is that of all the presidents before him, he had the modest of all backgrounds. In fact when he declared his assets in 2007, many Nigerians laughed him to scorn. This is a man who according to one "source" travelled to Abuja for the first time in his life in 1998 on a night bus! This is a man who himself acknowledged that he was not born rich. According to him when growing up, he had no shoes, no school bag; no car to take him to school; he sometimes had only one meal for days, trekked many miles to school, his family could not afford to eat rice, and even studied with lanterns as his poor parents could not afford power or generating sets . In spite of these, Goodluck was able to finish secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, holds a doctorate degree from the same University and is now the president of the Nigeria. In the course of his campaigns, he was quoted as saying: "...In my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria..."

 

When Goodluck Jonathan took the oath of office on Sunday, he has signed a path with history. Nigerians are no more interested about him not having shoes or trekking for miles. Such stories should be left to story tellers. He must hit the ground and start running. Nigerians are not interested in talks and promises. They want results. Nigerians need an improvement in the power sector. That sector should be privatised immediately.  The educational sector needs urgent overhauling. He should fix the transportation problem as well. He should leave no stone unturned from railway to road to air. He must fulfil all the promises he made during his campaigns throughout the country. Therefore, there is no time to waste in the next four years, no time for needless courtesy calls by traditional rulers and all kinds of groups that serve no purpose to the overall wellbeing of the country. No time to tour the world, no time for owanbe parties and all what not.

 

Goodluck Jonathan, the ball is in your court! Get to work!!!

 

The Many Evils Of Governor Ikedi Ohakim

On a bright Friday morning, precisely on January 21, 2010, a team of five armed policemen arrived at the residence of one Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha and escorted him into a black Toyota Prado SUV registered to the Imo State government house. His neighbours must have been green with envy thinking that Mr Iwuoha's has been given a cabinet position. Or what else could be the reason for the VIP treatment he was receiving?
Little did they know that this wasn't actually a luxury ride but one that would take Mr Iwuoha to hell. On that day, the governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, took it upon himself to personally flog the 40-year-old father of two. Right inside the governor's office, the governor, armed with a horsewhip, stripped Mr Iwuoha completely unclothed and for almost two hours flogged him like an erring donkey.
On his own account, Mr. Iwuoha had this to say:
"The governor head-butted me, punched me in the face and kicked me before returning to his table to grab a horsewhip. He ordered me to lie on the rug and he flogged me ruthlessly. While he was at it, his younger brother, Emmanuel Ohakim, who doubles as his chief of staff rushed in and shouted, ‘His excellency, his excellency!' The governor looked up and said, ‘Emma, this is Ikenna Samuelson. I will kill him today.'"
Mr Iwuoha has initiated several court cases against the governor which have ended up nowhere, due to the immunity from prosecution the governor enjoys.
It could also be recalled that on Sunday 8th of August 2010 security officials attached to Mr. Ikedi Ohakim arrested a man of God, Rev. Father Eustace Okorie for “allegedly” obstructing the convoy of the governor.
The security details accused the Catholic Priest of deliberately blocking the the governor’s convoy with his car along Orie-Akabo Ikeduru L.G.A. of the state. Rev. Father Eustace Okorie was immediately arrested, and his car impounded. The Priest was taken to the Government house. As soon as they touched down in Government house, they dragged him straight to what is fast turning into the Governor’s torture chambers. And there, his real travails began. He was stripped unclothed to his underpants, interrogated by the Chief security Officer of Governor Ohakim who took several pictures of the clergy before handing him over to the SSS office directly opposite the State House. He was then detained for more than two days alongside with a suspected student cultist when he purportedly refused to sign an implicating statement suggesting he blocked the road consciously.
Mrs Udoudo was driving to church one Sunday morning in with her two kids early February 2008 on Alfred Rewane road ,Lagos when Gov Ohakim's convoy sped down behind her. The Governors aides claimed that the woman had obstructed the convoy, thus posing security risk. The woman was repeatedly slapped, harassed and beaten by the security officers in the convoy. In addition, her car was damaged. Her frightened kids ran out of the car and could just have been run down by on coming vehicles. The most bizarre aspect of the incident was that the governor himself was seated in one of the cars, watching as a hapless woman was assaulted by his security goons. I can only imagine what was going on in the governor’s mind as this woman was brutalised on the road. What kind of a governor would take delight in such a macabre spectacle?
Space will not allow me to recount the story of Precious Efurueze, the 13-year-old boy, accused of allegedly attempting to kill Ikedi Ohakim (and former president Olusegun Obasanjo)in Owerri on 31, March,by stoning their campaign convoy with sachets of pure water! This Juvinile has been remanded in custody.
The chief magistrate explained that her reason for denying the accused bail is that they had been charged with felony which carries a punishment of life imprisonment if found guilty. She said the offence is a serious one and, therefore, should not be treated lightly.
The case was adjourned to May 30, for further hearing.
Today’s election signals the dawn of a new era in Imo state. By May 30th, Ikedi Ohakim will no longer enjoy the “immunity” he had enjoyed in the last four years.
I strongly call on all relevant bodies and associations to see that this man is tried and prosecuted and if found guilty, be sent to Jail!!!