ONE YEAR AFTER A STEEP DECLINE FOR JONATHAN

 

President Goodluck Jonathan may view himself as some sort of misunderstood philosopher, but after one year in office–marked by incautious decision to remove fuel subsidy, unfulfilled promises and reputational mishaps–his popularity is dipping sharply

At virtually all his presidential campaign rallies last year, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan got the crowds to see him as one of them. While not the most enchanting of speakers or a soundbite machine, his soft voice carried the warmth of a family doctor’s. His solemn face advertised him as one that does not belong in the sphere of the inordinately ambitious inhabited by most of the country’s politicians. Another weapon in his campaign arsenal was his first name: Goodluck. In many parts of the country, a name is thought to influence the entire life cyle of the bearer and things associated with him. For that, Goodluck was a winner; a fodder for headlines and pay-off to campaign messages. “Goodluck to you, Goodluck To Nigeria” and “Vote for Goodluck, reject bad luck” were two examples of the use to which the name was put by copywriters.

Jonathan would further boost his appeal as a candidate with the common touch by the now famous account of his immensely humble childhood, during which he had no shoes. “In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal, but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day, but I never despaired. Didn’t have power, didn’t have generators, studied with lanterns, but I never despaired. In spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree. Fellow Nigerians, if I could make it, you too can make it,” Jonathan said at his declaration for the presidential race.

Opposition politicians, especially from the North, who believed that Jonathan had gone against the Peoples Democratic Party’s zoning agreement, were unimpressed. Their response was that Nigerians should not vote for good fortune (thought to be inherent in Jonathan’s first name), but competence. However, with the sentiment already generated by the Jonathan campaign team, the opposition, especially General Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, were racing against a bullet train.