Follow Us on Google
We have heard the aides and supporters of the ex – President Goodluck Jonathan say he failed to be re – elected because some Hausa, Fulani and Yoruba leaders in his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), pocketed the money he gave them to woo voters. To some extent, this has been confirmed with some of his aides and PDP chieftains in the North and South arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for corrupt practices with regard to the money meant for the election.
Have they also not told us that he lost because the election was rigged against him in the North where the underage were allowed to vote? But have some staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not been arrested in some parts of the country, especially in Jonathan’s South – South zone, for taking bribe in thousands and millions of naira to alter the results of the election for him?
And have they not drummed it up that he met his Waterloo in 2015 because the then President Barack Obama of the United States and the leaders of Western European countries, were against him for refusing to take steps to get homosexuality legalized in Nigeria?
With these, what else can ex – President Jonathan have to say in the disclosures he promised to make at the appropriate time on why the PDP lost that poll and he failed to be re – elected? I see him coming up with two excuses when the campaigns for the 2019 contest begin. He could claim that Obama’s U.S, and the Heads of State or government of countries in Western Europe gave huge amounts to President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the election.
He could also come up with the story that the leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) who rallied round him in 2011 dumped him in 2015 to team up with Buhari’s Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and other parties to form the APC, because he declined to meet their demands for millions of dollars, allocation of oil blocks and lucrative political appointments.
But no matter the excuses he gives, the truth is that he failed to be re – elected because Almighty God, the Yoruba and northerners, particularly the Hausa and Fulani, were against his coming back for a second term. Another reason for his defeat was his ignoring my advice in the column of June 30, 2010 with the title: Jonathan, think twice, wait for 2015. Which if he abided with, he would have been the country’s president for eight years from 2015 – 23. In other words, the PDP would not have lost power in 2015, but would rather have had the presidency until 2023 and maybe beyond, if Jonathan performed very well in what would have been his first and second terms from 2015 – 23.
Dr. Jonathan offended the Heavenly Father and northerners in seeking re – election in 2011 because he defied the zoning policy of the PDP. By which once Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who utilized the southern opportunity was president for eight years (1999 – 2007), the North too should have had the office for the same period of time (2007 – 15). When Jonathan who was Vice – President completed the one year remaining in the term of his principal, President Umaru Yar’Adua, who died on May 5, 2010, he should have allowed northerners to present the PDP candidate for the 2011 poll. But he used the power and influence of incumbency to cheat them and got re – elected.
By denying the North the opportunity to have the presidency for eight years (2007 – 15), as the South did from 1999 – 2007, Dr. Jonathan went against God’s order in the Holy Bible that people should honour or keep to the agreement and promises they have with others. Which are in the Books of Numbers 30_ 9 – 11, Psalm 15:4 and Proverbs 6:1 – 2.
•To be continued next week Wednesday
Buhari’s promotion of herbal medicine
As shown in this column six weeks ago, on August 30, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has given clear and believable indication that President Buhari’s government is out to promote herbal medicine in a meaningful or impactful way. This came to light during the Minister’s visit to 90 year – old Pa Aliyu Giwa of Adavieba community in Kogi State and the largess he announced for him for curing a good number of people of prostate cancer for many years now.
Among other things, Dr. Onu said the Buhari administration through the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency would co-operate with the old man in enhancing his herbal practice. In order for more people to benefit from his expertise in curing patients of prostate cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke, diabetes, rheumatism and sexually transmitted diseases.
The heart-warming news also included his disclosure that the Minister of Health had agreed that the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development would be involved in helping Pa Giwa in the process of developing his medicine for use locally and in countries across the world. Thirdly, he announced that the Federal Government would expand the old man’s clinic, by building a four – bedroom flat to enable him admit and take care of more people and provide him with a vehicle to enhance his herbal practice.
Today, I am writing to appeal to the Federal Government not to limit its promotion of herbal medicine to Pa Giwa, but extend it to other alternative doctors, such as Dr. Adeola Isaac Odeyemi and Mrs. Folarin, who have proven records of curing prostate enlargement and prostate cancer. And in significantly controlling or managing diabetes, stroke, malaria and high blood pressure, which are the major and most worrisome ailments in the country.
• More to come on it next week
