I Will Vote For GEJ Because Of Tribalism, Not Good Governance By Okafor Johnmary

Feb 4, 2015 – I Will Vote For GEJ, Jonathan Because Of Tribalism, Not Good Governance By Okafor Johnmary

Ijaw & Ndigbo Speak: I Will Vote For Jonathan Bcos He’s Not Hausa Or Yoruba 

Biblically, where two or more persons are gathered in His name, He is there among them. But these days if you come closer and listen to where two or more persons gather, you will know it is in the name of “Them”. Do not ask me who are ”Them” because every conscious citizen of this country with the interest of the country enshrined in his heart will speedily conclude that I am talking about no other persons than Muhammadu Buhari and Goodluck Jonathan. Unsurprising to me, this in-coming election has, understandably ignited magnanimous conflagration of public attention to the extent that topical bride on the lips of all and sundry: in churches, mosques, offices/workplaces, market places, Free Readers Association newspaper stands (you need to visit this one if you have not done so), drinking bars, night clubs, and even in labour wards!!! (I know that you will say that I have come again. But don’t worry shaa).

Since this current heat discharged from the exhaust pipes of this present Presidential Election cum Presidential Rejection, became undisputed national issue fixed on the 14thof February 2014, our traditional Valentine ’s Day has been buried and forgotten, at least this year. (So una don forget Valentine’s day? Ok. There is God ooo). Interestingly, I have made at least 5 national dailies, my bed mates so as not to miss out from any unfolding information about this, concentrating categorically on the political issues they contain.

I rise to Watching television whenever I hear “Up Nepa!!!” or I go on online to watch the ones I missed. I have taken time to undertake deep researches on what ever they disseminate as information to be sure of its facts and the objectivity of its contents. By virtue of my course of study, I am able to know what “Gatekeepers of information can do to mass media audience. I swear, I know what propaganda can do to the masses. Most importantly, some media practitioners have forgotten that inaccuracy is an unpardonable sin in journalism, neither are they still socially responsible to the masses as “social Responsibility theory” recommends. Some Media Practitioners commercialize information of the elected officials to the electorates instead of distributing unrefined facts to the audience.

Credit must be given to the few media practitioners that have remained socially responsible and loyal to the masses. I know that it is not easy at all to endure the temptation of rejecting their own share of millions in monetary forms and other grants, probably oozing from the yet-to-be-accounted “missing” 20 billion naira and the 21 billion naira donated in the name of sponsoring campaign when our foreign reserve is growing at a reducing rate!! THERE IS SATAN OOO…(Not only God dey naa). It is not easy at all. But all the same, people still rely on the current media reports and campaign promises to form their opinion on this upcoming presidential election instead of considering facts and as punctuated with concrete and admissible evidence displayed through glaring unfulfilled promises. Honestly, it hurts me that most Nigerians do not know the value of research for facts and research on past incidents. If they had done their research well and read editorials more than short influential part of the news, they will know the truth and know sincerely that irrespective of your tribe, geopolitical zone and religion, we need a better Nigeria, whoever can deliver same.

Let me reminisce on one of the best political discussions I ever had in my life so far (since this upcoming election has become the agenda of pounding discussions) and masses are forming their own opinion on the few amount of information they can lay their hands on, (be it facts, lies, propaganda, refined information in favour of one party to another, etc). I was in a pub spending my leisure time positively when the discussion about the upcoming presidential election reared its ugly head again. They have all concluded on who their candidate for the election is, based on reasons unrelated to performance and objectivity. I did not say a word neither did I say who I will vote for nor the reason for so-doing.

I was listening carefully because I know the value of listening in communication. When all of them have finished saying who they will vote for, I asked all of them their religion and tribes cum geopolitical zone and their reasons for consuming subscribing to their opinions. They were all Christians but some are Igbos cum south-east while some are Ijaw people cum south-south. Some Igbos cum Ijaws said they will vote for APC highlighting reasons that range from failed promises of current government, corruption, Leaders talking as if things are alright in in the face of voracious insurgency!

While some Ijaws cum Igbos said they will vote for PDP for their own different reasons ranging from “Whether He is doing well or not let him be there because Hausas and Yorubas have been there for long” to, “He will Islamize this country, He has already signed Nigeria’s name into Islamic countries waiting to be elected to pass it as a law, we don’t want power to go back to northerners again”, “even if we are dying of high cost of living”, “even if ‘She’ used 255 million to buy 2 cars she is our sister”, “even if she spent 10 billion on transportation she is our sister”, “even thou Jonathan is a failure, Buhari is old”, “He will not be the change, He doesn’t have PhD”, to “His certificate is questionable”.

As they were arguing, one man who has been silent before spoke after emptying his beer into his stomach (through the Cesarian operation conducted with ‘ECOMOG’ glass cup). As the man was about to leave, he interrupted me while I was trying to give them my own opinion. He said “I will vote for GEJ for two reasons only; one I am a tribalist rather than nationalist. Two, GEJ know he failed the expectation of the masses and his promises but I hope He will realize his mistakes and amend it if reelected for 2ndtenure”. After saying it, he turned and left. I was short of words and started thinking about the last time I had seen such a sincere person before. He swept me off my feet and left me in pin-drop silence.

Well before I left after my leisure, I reminded my fellow ‘Anambralians’ and Igbos of GEJ’s comment on the 27th of Feb 2011 in our capital city of Awka. He said that he would construct all the major roads that link our State to other neighboring states; complete the second Niger bridge. To sum it all, He assured that Nigerians would not be talking about Generator by this time when his four years in office would have ended as it about to end. Again on the 28thFeb 2011 at Onitsha as He was begging for our votes, GEJ said “I do not make empty promises in my campaign because whatever I promise to do, I had already carried out adequate study to make sure I can accomplish it in next four years”.

Let your reason of voting for any of the aspirants be sincere just like that honest man I met in the pub because we will reap what we sow as we are already reaping the ones we sowed in 2011. You can vote for GEJ if your reason is exactly like this man of sincerity, not on fallacy of Islamizing our country or that of “Hausa agaghi achizi anyi ozo” mantra, or fear of change or Buhari is old (Reagan one the best presidents of America became president at the age of 69! He became the oldest American president. Leadership is not by PhD, even if it is by PhD, Zoology has nothing to do with Political Science or even Human being but Animals.

By Okafor Nzube Johnmary, Freelancer journalist/writer,[email protected], 2348063732220