Nigerians, Let Goodluck Be!

Editor’s note: Naij.com contributor Olowu Omotoyosi says Goodluck Jonathan does not deserve the negative backlash he receives, having been made a sort of “fall guy” by anyone who wishes to criticize the immediate past government.

The immediate past president Goodluck Jonathan

One thing I, as a scholar, have noticed over the years among us Nigerians is that we derive pleasure from the failure of others. We derive pleasure from accusations when the ones making them are also guilty. We utter statements and say words that are unhealthy for the polity. We say words that lack value and significant importance to the socio-economic development of our beloved country.

Some so-called elder statesmen choose to make generalized statements on the basis of region or faith rather than come out with solutions and ideas that would move the nation forward. In Nigeria today, we have a crop of hypocritical politicians who would cut down a redwood tree, then mount the stump and make a speech in favour of forest conservation.

Much have been said about the March presidential elections which produced General Muhammadu  Buhari as the winner thus paving way for the APC-led government to saddle the affairs of the nation for the next four years. Within the past few months, President Buhari has tried his best in seeking solutions to the multiple problems ravaging the Nigerian state and, therefore, providing Nigerians the privilege of enjoying the dividends of democracy.

But what baffles me a lot are these questions: was former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s six-year presidency that bad? Why are people so keen on attacking and blackmailing the former president?

Leave it or take it, the immediate past president Goodluck Jonathan had done his best to improve the lives of the Nigerian people, and history will never forget that. Despite the shortcomings, he has stood among men and peacefully handed the presidency over to Muhammadu Buhari to govern the country for the next four years. What do this league of accusers need from Goodluck Jonathan?

Every day in the dailies and on social media we see and hear people tagging his government as being corrupt. Was Jonathan the only president Nigeria has ever had? Why shifting blame on him alone? Is it because he has been silent on national issues for the past few months? Let him rest peacefully in Otuoke, his hometown, and stir away from controversies.

I believe that, at the right time, GEJ will speak. Let us stop blaming him alone. Let the necessary institutions carry out their job on detecting corrupt government members. GEJ should not be blame for our socio economic problems as we Nigerians ourselves are responsible for our present predicament. Continuous accusations and criticisms of GEJ’s government will not help but rather serve as an avenue to paint his tenure in a bad way. Goodluck Jonathan needs to be celebrated and not nailed.

In every developed society, politics is what divides the masses, but they are able to find common ground to stand united. Not in Nigeria. For Nigerians to enjoy the change we so much desired, we need to work together and stop the politics of accusations to build a country we all would be proud of .

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