2011: The ‘Goodluck’ In Jonathan

As a university teacher, skilled technocrat, deputy governor, acting governor, governor, vice president, acting president, president and ECOWAS chairman, luck played itself out in the affairs of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan; so it was not surprising to many that he clinched yet another victory at the just-concluded presidential primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerging as the party’s flagbearer for the April presidential election. Destiny has proved yet again that he is a man of destiny; a man of luck, goodluck; that inspite of the boisterousness, bellicosity and belligerent posture of the Adamu Ciroma-led Committee that produced former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as ‘consensus candidate’ of the North, Goodluck Jonathan is living up to his name. What is in a name, afterall? Many would ask. The ‘Goodluck’ example has shown that there is a spirit behind names – a good name catapults, a bad one debases and bemoans. Interestingly, Atiku and his northern acolytes did not believe what they got at the convention; they were expectant and hopeful of victory – basking on the strength of their much-touted North; they failed to come in terms with the reality on ground, the reality of the moment that Nigerians are tired of the control of the Northern oligarchy that have dictated the pace of governance in the country since independence, that a new dawn has smiled on Nigeria; that generational cum-geopolitical zone shift is the order of the day in all democracies globally, and Nigeria could therefore not afford to stand aloof! But at the end of the day, delegates at the PDP 2011 Special Convention brought this fact to bare, and making the political emprie of Atiku strengthtened by Ibrahim Babangida, Aliyu Gusau and Bukola Saraki political structures, collapse like a pack of cards! And making the Ciromas of Nigeria to cover their faces in shame like the proverbial Ostrich! Thus, the vauntings of Ciroma’s North has been effectively checkmated; the vainglorious ambition of the Atikus who saw nothing good in a south-south/Niger Delta presidency has been nailed to a standstill and the campaign of calumny of a few discredited politicians of northern extraction who believe, albeit maliciously, that it’s their birth-right to rule forever has been perforated with these ‘internal colonialists’ and ‘feudal lords’ subdued, at least at the level of the PDP presidential primaries, a new Nigeria is now in the offing, the radiance of the light at the end of the tunnel could be noticed; and it could be emphatically said without fear of contradiction that there is now hope for Nigeria! For the sake of those who may not be abreast of how the Goodluck in Jonathan led the incumbent president to take the ‘shine’ off the face of Atiku and his northern cohorts, let us give a blow-by-blow account of the event of Thursday, January 13, 2011 at the Eagle Square, Abuja. In a keenly contested primaries election Thursday night to Friday, January 14th morning in Abuja, President Jonathan won in 31 of the 36 states, including Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, leaving Atiku with only five states, while the third and only woman aspirant in the race, Mrs Sarah Jubril was a joker of a sort, as she only had one vote from Kwara – her home state, which is believed to be her vote at the primaries. The Chief Returning Officer of the primaries election, Mr. Tunde Adeniran announced the result after over eleven hours of voting/counting of votes that started at 7.55pm on Thursday and ended at 6.10 am on Friday. Of the 3,507 votes cast, Jonathan got 2,736, Atiku 805 and Jubril one vote, while 61 votes were voided. Based on this result which was accepted by all the aspirants and their agents as well as the entire delegates, Mr. Adeniran who is the only one empowered to announce the results told the 5,000 delegates: “I, Tunde Adeniran, therefore declare Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan to be the winner of this Presidential election primaries”. To dissect the result, it was clear that President Jonathan won 100% of the votes cast in four states, namely: Abia, Cross River, Edo, Akwa-Ibom and Bayelsa and over 90% of the votes cast in Rivers, Ogun, Ekiti, Plateau, Oyo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Delta, Katsina, Imo, Ondo, Lagos, Osun and FCT Abuja while Atiku won in Kano, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto and Zamfara States. Interestingly, a major feature of the election was the upstage President Jonathan caused in Atiku’s home state of Adamawa where he beat Atiku, having polled 86 votes as against Atiku’s 31. Political pundits believe that this was not, however, surprising as the state chapter of the party has been ridden with crises over the return of Atiku to the party, factionalising the party between the state governor Murtala Nyako and Atiku and pitching Nyako ever since against Atiku. Jonathan also beat Atiku in late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s home state of Katsina. Further details of the primaries result show that in Akwa-Ibom State, Jonathan polled 141 votes, Atiku (no vote), Jubril (no vote); Anambra, Jonathan (47 votes), Atiku (eight votes); Bayelsa, Jonathan (76) Atiku (no vote); Bauchi, Jonathan (46) Atiku (44); Rivers, Jonathan (128), Atiku (2); Sokoto, Jonathan (32), Atiku (84) and Taraba, Jonathan (62) and Atiku (15 votes) while in Ondo, Jonathan polled 69 votes as against Atiku 19. In Borno, Jonathan got 33 votes and Atiku 26; Imo, Jonathan (125), Atiku (98); Cross River, Jonathan (105), Atiku (no vote); Ebonyi, Jonathan (82); Atiku (2); Enugu, Jonathan (89), Atiku (seven votes); Delta, Jonathan (114), Atiku (seven votes), and Katsina, Jonathan (147) and Atiku, eleven votes. The results also show that Yobe State delegates gave Jonathan 29 votes as against Atiku’s 20 votes; Zamfara, Jonathan (seven votes), Atiku (70 votes); Lagos, Jonathan (52 votes); Atiku (three votes); Jigawa, Jonathan (100), Atiku (17); Nasarawa, Jonathan (53), Atiku (eight votes); Osun, Jonathan (99), Atiku (one vote); Benue, Jonathan (72), Atiku (15); Ekiti, Jonathan (76), Atiku (one vote); Kogi, Jonathan (84), Atiku (24); Plateau, Jonathan (70) Atiku (5); Kebbi, Jonathan (33), Atiku (44); Oyo, Jonathan (107), Atiku 10); Ogun, Jonathan (80), Atiku (three votes); Niger, Jonathan (16), Atiku (94) and Kaduna, Joanthan (82), Atiku (41 votes) while in FCT Abuja, Jonathan polled 24 votes as against Atiku’s three votes. It is instructive that before the commencement of ballot, the three aspirants (including Mrs Jubril) addressed the delegates, trying to outwit each other and cropping them (delegates) to vote for them, promising to take the nation to the next level if they win the presidential election proper in April. Basking in the euphoria of his victory, Jonathan gave an acceptance speech where he thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and described his victory as ‘victory for all Nigerians’, while enjoining his rivals – the defeated aspirants – to join hands with him in the task ahead. Said he: This victory is not for me alone but for all Nigerians — I want to welcome Alhaji Atiku and Mrs Sarah Jibril on board so that together we can build our nation. This country has challenges and only a national party can bring about the transformation the nation needs and that party is our party, the PDP”, adding “it is our place to listen to Nigerians – what Nigerians want. Our vision for Nigeria is clear – (to make the nation great); Nigerians have the talents, skills and aspirations to make this happen. It is about all Nigerians working together”. What’s more. The peaceful nature of the election the rancour-free atmosphere that pervaded the Eagle Square throughout the duration of the primary coupled with the patience of delegates who largely stayed awake all through the night are indications that the PDP, and by extension, Nigerians, are in a real search for a true leader in 2011. And not a few of them count on the “Goodluck” in Jonathan to give the incumbent President ultimate victory in the April presidential election when he flies his party’s flag against candidates of other political parties! Certainly many believe that come April, destiny would re-enact the ‘Goodluck in Jonathan’ espisode of the PDP 2011 National Convention that saw the incumbent president soaring like eagle above Atiku. Justus Awaji, Abuja