A fortnight ago, the South-south and South-east geo-political zones of the Peoples Democratic Party met in Asaba, Delta State, to, according to them, review the state of the nation. The row call was long and intimidating.
The list at a glance: Governor Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Peter Obi (Anambra), the host, Emmanuel Uduaghagan (Delta), Theodore Orji (Abia) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo). The Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, naturally was absent but he played smart politics by asking his deputy, Engineer Tele Ikuru, to represent him.
Apart from the governors, other eminent personalities at the meeting included the Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, members of the national and state assemblies, the Senate Leader, Senator Udoma Egba, House of Representatives Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor and a cross section of state party chairmen and stakeholders.
Ostensibly, the meeting had been called to look at some of the critical issues in the country as they pertain to the region. And after rambling back and forth, they zeroed in on why the meeting was called in the first place- to declare support for President Goodluck Jonathan.
Certainly, there was nothing wrong in declaring support for the president, besides, they are politicians and the time for real time politics is nigh. So, such needless but politically expedient moves would be frequent features on the turf as the countdown to 2015 continues. The problem, however, was the basis of their support.
Theirs was the height of intellectual sycophancy as they almost referred to the president as the best thing that has happened to the country.
Their communiqué read in part: "For his focused leadership, bold and result-yielding transformation agenda, which deserves the unwavering support of all Nigerians and friends of Nigerians and Nigeria alike, as the laudable achievements of the administration in strengthening our democracy, stabilising the polity, growing the economy and improving the quality of life of all citizens continue to unfold."
Haba, in this same Nigeira? Isn’t it the same president that a recent NOI Polls described as having badly dropped in rating on the basis of same poor performance that these people have declared their support?
For sure, many things can be drawn from this but one thing stands out: should we continue in endless search for what is wrong with Nigeria or what the Nigerian problems are? These people are obviously the problems of the country. For as long as they remain dishonest in their assessment of the situation and unable to speak truth to power, they are the real problems that the nation desperately seeks solution to.
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