After the the image-shattering debacle of the #BringBackJonathan2015 campaign, a new kind of thanks to a national leader has emerged. Many people especially the sycophants, spokesmen and usual suspects are queuing up to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for swiftly taking the courage to order the pulling down the sacrilegious campaign posters. Would it have been better if he left them hanging in public places? The western media would have “atomised” him with ease. Other projects have not been dealt with nearly as swiftly #BringBackOurGirls in particular. However, this is not the appropriate time or place to critique President Jonathan’s tenure in office. Nevertheless, “Brand Nigeria” has taken a crapious pounding in the vast global psyche, redemption would take mammoth effort and vision on the part of the Nigerian government and President Jonathan in terms of effort in excellent works and achievement.
We have seen Nigerian politicians who win elections with political ricism (simply rice for votes) and other nefarious practices organise elaborate Church Thanks Giving Services to celebrate their fraudulent election victories. Thanks to God and Politicians are getting more innovate and perverse by the day. The thanks in question offered to President Goodluck Jonathan is the newest dimension. What next?
The day when a Nigerian leader will publicly admit his errors or publicly punish those who did disastrous “afamaco” work on his behalf are a long way away.
Grimot Nane