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Jonathan, They Rigged For You By Suraj Oyewale Whoever was in charge of President Goodluck Jonathan campaign’s strategy in the just concluded presidential election must be given kudos, if not for anything, for understanding the psyche of Nigerians. The president aptly demonstrated mastery in the game of cheap, populist campaign lines. These he deployed so effectively in his campaigns. The most popular of such lines was his ‘I-had-no-shoe’ statement. In a country where grass-to-grace stories sell fast, not a few Nigerians swallowed the president’s tale, never mind the fact that the late despot, Sani Abacha was also the son of a poor Kanuri peasant trader that migrated to Kano to struggle for living. America’s president Barack Obama’s picture was also not spared in the campaign fanfare, as the photograph the man took with President Jonathan was also splashed at every available space to inform us of the caliber of people Mr President sits with, never mind that embarrassing interview with CNN on that visit, where among other gaffes, he referred to Jega as INEC president. We can also not forget in a hurry the ‘no-blood-is-worth-shedding-for-my ambition’ statement, as if any candidate will ever talk of shedding blood for his/her ambition. And on the election day, after voting at his Otuoke home, Mr President told us that he will quit if he lost. Another cheap talk. This is not Cote D’Iviore. Nobody can lose an election and refuse to quit. Not even Obasanjo. ‘Don’t rig for me’, also exclaimed Dr Jonathan in another of his many populist comments, a statement that made newspapers headlines. But I have a tatafo for Mr President. They rigged for you. Video evidences abound on youtube. In many other states, the governors desperate to curry your favour rigged for you. And isn’t it curious that it is only in South South and South East - the region you needed desperately in the event of northerners proving stubborn and South-Westerners not yielding to the billions you pumped there - that states recorded 90% plus turn-out? Mr President, the only way we can trust you in other promises you made is to investigate these cases of rigging for you. That is also the only way I can be convinced that your statement that nobody should rig for your is not another campaign rhetoric meant to deceive the voting public and portray you as an innocent gentleman. And finally, while congratulating you on this victory, I advise you to your toe the line of your predecessor by declaring your assets. You will even do better by accounting for the billions that went into your campaign, telling us the source. And lest I forget, how true is Professor Pat Utomi’s assertion that 100million Naira was spent daily on your campaign and Sahara Reporters’ accusation that 107 Billion naira was distributed to claim some stubborn areas three days to the presidential election, since neither you nor your vocal media aides that have defended you in even lesser accusations have come out to deny this grave allegations? Suraj Oyewale, Victoria Island, Lagos |