Mr. President, You Missed The Point

President Goodluck Jonathan had ample opportunity to reply critics of his lack-lustre administration on Sunday during the interdenominational service to herald the celebration of the countryâ€s 51st independence anniversary. During the event which took place at the National Ecumenical Centre, Abuja, the President accused his critics of trying to turn him into what he is not.

Miffed by unrelenting criticisms of his indecisive and inept leadership at tackling national issues, the President launched into a tirade. Hear him: “Some Nigerians will want the president of this country to be like a lion, a tiger, somebody that acts like a fighter; they will want the president to operate like an army general; to display like kings in the Biblical era; like the King of Syria, King of Babylon, Pharaoh of Egypt. Unfortunately, I cannot be one. God knows why I am here.”

After this outright rejection of attempt to put him in a strait jacket, the president went on to tell his listeners how world leaders, including the president of the most powerful country in the world, Barack Obama, have been commending his administration for doing a good job.

As much as we respect the right of the president to hold his own opinion about his critics, it is our opinion that the president missed the point here. As a news medium charged with holding the government accountable to the people, it is our candid opinion that the president should not bask in the euphoria of commendations from outsiders who are far removed from the reality here in Nigeria.

The president missed the point by accusing his critics of wanting to dress him in a borrowed garb. Far from it. The critics mean well for the country. In the face of mounting insecurity, massive unemployment, poor infrastructure and poverty ravaging the land, the critics are saying that the president should sit up and respond decisively to these challenges.

Like the saying goes, it is he who wears the shoe that knows where it pinches. President Jonathan should realise that he is best judged by Nigerians who are the ones directly affected by his actions and inactions. It is only Nigerians that are at the receiving end of his policies and programmes that are in the best position to say whether he is succeeding or not and not foreigners who are far detached from the deprivations and disillusionment in the land.

We are happy that the president responded the way he did because it shows that the criticisms are getting at him. His response shows that he is aware of these criticisms and what the people expect from him.

From his reply to his critics, the president is aware that the people want him to be bold, decisive and quickly meet their expectations. The people want him to act swiftly and provide them stable electricity; they want him to act quickly and stop the insecurity in the land; they want him to act quickly and provide them good roads; they want him to act quickly and stem the rot in the education sector, they want him to put an end to the endemic corruption that has rendered the country prostrate; they want him to provide infrastructure. In short, Nigerians are yearning for dividends of democracy from the present administration.

Nobody is asking him to act like a lion, tiger, fighter, army general or any of the Biblical kings in administering the country. He should face the task of governance and meet the peopleâ€s expectations. The president should not be deceived by commendations from abroad to think that all is well in the country or that his approach is the best in tackling the myriads of problems facing the country. No, all is not well. Nigerians are yearning for a responsive, dynamic, decisive and visionary leader who will take them out of the present doldrums. Not a spineless one.

However, we are gratified by the presidentâ€s assertion that the country is not on auto pilot. If it is not, then we need action, Mr. President.