by Suraj Oyewale

Finally, the “BRING BACK GEJ IN 2015” wind blew to my side. I opened my email Tuesday last week to see an invitation by the Founder of one of the over 8000 groups seeking the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015, pleading with me to join the transformation train. How he got my email I don’t know, but getting an email is not an issue as I have that all over the internet, including the bottom of my YNaija Tuesday column here. The gentleman, who bears a name that suggests he is from the North (or from Edo State if from the South), raised a number of issues in his invite. I present below our email exchanges.

“Dear Jarus,

I hope this letter finds you in the best of health and good spirits.

I have had the rare privilege to have worked, schooled and lived in 27 states of our dear country. This experience has humbled me tremendously but it has also helped me to appreciate our journey as nation. Putting ethno-religious sentiments aside, and at a risk of sounding patronizing, President Jonathan’s government has really worked.

But as this government advances its journey towards a new dawn of peace, unity and progress, it is obvious that some self-serving bitter humans are hell-bent at unmaking Nigeria.

It is against this backdrop that I seek your support for the greatest plan a Nigerian Patriot could ever invent – GEJ THE ONE PROJECT.
THE ONE project seeks to:

• PROVIDE PLATFORMS FOR THE RAISING OF VOICES THAT ARE OTHERWISE LIKELY TO BE MARGINALIZED OR SILENCED, AND PROMOTE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICAL
THINKING ON ISSUES THAT CONCERN THE GEJ ADMINISTRATION.
• TO DOUSE DISSENTING VOICES AND THE BARRAGE OF NEGATIVE PRESS BY THE MEDIA AND THE DESTRUCTIVE OPPOSITION.
• TO ENTRENCH THE ETHICAL FRAMEWORK THAT INTEGRATES POLITICAL, INTELLECTUAL AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO THE DISHEARTENING OPINIONS OF GEJ’S
ANTAGONISTS
• TO SHOW USING NOVEL AND PRAGMATIC COMMUNICATION VEHICLES THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF GEJ’S TRANSFORMATION AGENDA
• TO CREATE NEW ADVOCATES AND CHAMPIONS FOR GEJ’S CAUSES, PROGRAMMES AND ACTIVITIES

There is no doubt that we are at a time where we find ourselves at a crossroads in Nigeria’s history. The state of our country calls for action, bold and swift, and we need to act – not only to assure the re-election of President Jonathan, but to embolden the ideals of good governance and shared progress.

That is why this campaign can’t only be about me. It must be about us — it must be about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle, of your hopes, and your dreams. It will take your time, your energy, and your advice — to push us forward when we’re doing right, and to let us know when we’re not.

And if you will join me in this probable but tumultuous quest, I sense, that even in the face of impossible odds, we shall soon be the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth.

I would avail myself to answer any questions you may require as regards this project.

Please accept the regards of my highest esteem.

Yours respectfully,
Name Withheld
Founder, THE ONE PROJECT”

My response:

“Thank you for the invite, AA. I’m humbled.

I have never been driven by ethno-religious sentiments in my political choices.

In 2011, I campaigned for the Buhari-Bakare ticket, solely because I felt at this point in our nation, a Buhari will make a difference, based on his antecedents. I will not bore you with them as they are common knowledge.

I was not very impressed with GEJ’s anti-corruption credentials.

That said, elections came and my candidates lost. I refused to join the crowd that wished him failure. I threw my weight behind him and hoped I was proved wrong in my initial assessment. I crossed my fingers, hoping for the best.

Looking back, 3 years on, I have not been proved wrong. In all honesty, he surpassed my expectation in a couple of things, especially railway resurrection, power sector improvement (no matter how marginal). He also scores high in electoral reforms.

Then the many lows. His anti-corruption body language is far from convincing. I’m a little hesitant to put all the blames on him for the security situation of the country. But I will not give him pass mark in that area. I believe he can do better, as we saw in Yar’adua’s time.

I also believe his tendency to play politics with everything, as evident in his doubting the abduction of Chibok girls until the world intervenes. His intervention did not come until after 19 days.

Over all, I will score him 40%.

40% is not a pass. Unfortunately, I will not be able to join you guys. I have sympathy for APC basically because I want change. I will therefore be supporting the APC in the next presidential election, whoever their candidate is, except Atiku.

Thank you for the hand of fellowship.

Jarus
Lagos”

40% is not a pass. Unfortunately, I will not be able to join you guys. I have sympathy for APC basically because I want change. I will therefore be supporting the APC in the next presidential election, whoever their candidate is, except Atiku.

My friend replied:

“Jarus,

You know you are one of the few well-meaning Nigerians left. No patronage intended.

I am quite motivated by your robust response. They were clear cut and incisive.

However I would like to make some points:

1. I had almost voted Buhari in 2011 until the debate organized by NN24. By my assessment, he lacked the vision to pilot the affairs of this nation and he also couldn’t speak to my issues. I feel there has to be more, than just being incorruptible to rule this country -foresight, leadership etc.

2. As regards the score card, did you intentionally miss out the work in Agriculture, Infrastructure, Job Creation, Reforms and Health? This may bring the mark up to a 65-70%

Finally, I would want to reiterate that this is not about political parties but about individuals. I have always believed in the democratic value of opposition parties, but the APC have shown some lack of integrity and are destructive in their approach to criticism in recent times. I have always doubted and will continue to doubt the intentions of one APC chieftain – Sen. Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I pray history judges me wrong.

Nevertheless, thank you so much for taking out time to respond to my email. I hope we might find other common grounds to collaborate in the future.

Please accept the assurances of my highest esteem.”

I responded:

“Thanks AA,

Yes, I’m aware of this administration’s efforts in the areas you mentioned, and they were all considered in my 40% rating. And, frankly, that’s even being generous.

On Buhari, yes, while I will want to see a President that has the elocution of Barack Obama, it’s unfortunately hardly by that. After all, a certain Ibrahim Babangida was the nearest we had in sleep-repelling articulation in recent memory. We all know the result. In any case, GEJ is hardly a better option even on that ground alone, not with the many unpresidential, off-guard, incoherent faux pas we have seen him make.

While platform cannot be wished away, the truth is, even when we set aside parties, GEJ has not demonstrated he’s close to the best we have at this time.

On Tinubu, I’m also not one of his biggest fans, but no objective analyst can fault the quality of candidates he backs. From governors like Fashola, Aregbesola, Oshiomole, Fayemi, to all those performing Lagos State Commissioners that are governor materials themselves. You can’t take away the man’s political recruitment dexterity. His performance as Lagos State Governor was not bad either. That is why I disagree with you on that score too.

I’m always open to constructive and progressive collaborations, but the GEJTHEONE PROJECT is unfortunately not one of such.

Thanks once again.

Jarus”

Then his parting message:

“Jarus,

I thank you once again for these constructive opinions.

I have learnt many things from you. I shall be in touch.

—
Yours respectfully,
Name Withheld
Founder, THE ONE PROJECT”
++++

I do not know whether the gentleman is doing it out of sincere conviction of the performance of President Jonathan, or whether he’s one of the commissioned “transformation” trolls that dot the internet space. It could even be a set-up……someone trying to dangle carrot along the line and Abatify Jarus, given my open opposition bend as an active participant in internet discussion forums, most notably Nairaland and this column.

Notwithstanding, I commend him for such daring approach and  wish him all the best. For now, GEJ still remains a no for me.

——————–

Suraj Oyewale, a chartered accountant, blogger and public analyst, is the Founder of JarusHub Career & Management Portal. He can be reached via [email protected]; Twitter: @mcjarus

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.