by Onyibe John Mark

Wouldn’t we all prefer a President with few words??  But with her performance speaking, than one with weighty words that only makes us loss hope and trust, that in a few years the Nigeria of our dreams would come to Reality.

Prior to the 2011 elections, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was a grandiloquent speaker, Every time he was to make an address or give a speech; I was usually the first to rush to the TV screen or probably the link, to see what he has to say. But since the devil stirred the still waters, it has been one controversial statement or another from our dearly beloved President. 

When the issue of Assert declaration came on board at the early stage of this present administration, it was expected that Mr President wouldn’t have any problems declaring his asset, due to the “no shoe” make believe story which was told to Nigerians as a campaign strategy and also the high hopes Nigerians had for his leadership qualities. But surprisingly the only thing Mr President could say was “I don’t give a damn” This statement was indeed shocking from our beloved president and this left me asking, IF INDEED HE WAS READY TO LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Because a president that isn’t ready to declare his Asset shouldn’t expect a local Government Chairman to do the same.

Furthermore After the memorial Bomb blast which occurred on October 1^st 2011, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), instantly claimed responsibility for the attack, but the presidency was quick to give a counter statement, stating that MEND wasn’t responsible, But till today No name apart from the so called MEND leader has been Mentioned in connection to the blast.

In a recent Address at the 54^th Annual conference of the Nigerian Economy held in Abuja, Mr President, to a large extent, took time in defining what and who is actually corrupt in the society. Part of the statement reads and I quote;

“…When we talk about corruption, the private sector is involved, the public sector is involved, even the individuals, including other societies… I wouldn’t want to mention names so that I will not be attacked…”

Did he actually say that? If the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, the one that holds power to use any of the anti-corruption agencies at will, cannot tell us who’s corrupt in our society. Is the Aso Rock now vulnerable? Are we short of security personnel? Is it the poor masses that should perform the duty of publishing the names of the corrupt people in the society?  Or is it the youths, whom ASUU strike has kept their dreams on hold for the last 76 days that would, or are the corrupt once going to identify themselves as corrupt??

Wouldn’t we all prefer a President with few words with only his performance speaking, than one with weighty words that only makes us lose hope and trust?

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