By Eugene Enahoro
Even the most ardent admirers of the Goodluck Jonathan agree that there is a desperate lack of inspirational words or actions emanating from the presidency.
Apart from infantile clichés such as ‘breath of fresh air’ and the non-existent ‘Transformation Agenda,’ no one can remember anything memorable or inspirational emanating from the mouth of our president.
His ineloquence, apparent poor diction, stuttering monotone speech, and inability to speak extemporaneously make it difficult for him to get any concise thoughts across to his audience, and guarantees that his words cannot be etched on our marble.
It would therefore be quite out of character if not well nigh impossible for him to inspire anyone with anything he says off the top of his head. That is why he has speech writers. The best speech can be marred in delivery. As Chinua Achebe points out, words are like palm oil with which yams are eaten.
Unfortunately, they are consistently letting him down. A close and careful study of his Independence Day address reveals an urgent need for him to consider replacing whoever is responsible for the sheer drivel that he was forced to read out on that day.
The content of the speech bore absolutely no resemblance to the truths that stare us all in the face. Instead of making our president sound like a statesman, the speech only served to make him appear clueless. His speech writers had no qualms in ignoring reality and making our president look like a person who doesn’t know what is happening. He urgently needs to surround himself with people capable of producing the sort of speeches that have the power to inspire people to act in the national interest.
The speech did not contain a single memorable phrase designed to motivate the populace and give hope.
Worse still it, comprised extremely defective logic. Full of contradictions, unsupported assertions, fallacious conclusions, and lexical inaccuracies, it was a poor and lackluster presentation by the president of a country which is such a dire predicament.
Our national infrastructure is in total dilapidation, our security agencies are overwhelmed by militants, armed robbers, kidnappers and terrorists, constant electricity and running water are luxuries only for the rich, the education system has virtually collapsed and we have no social security system.
The best the president’s speech writers could say about the monumental failures of this government is to admit that “these may not be the best of times for our nation.” Apart from bankrupting the economy, wasting billions on failed amnesty programs, and failing to halt the continued massive theft of our oil, this government is accumulating a massive debt profile with no real agenda to create employment or develop a social welfare system to assist increasing numbers living below the poverty line.
Although clearly wanting to remain in the Villa despite his failures, Goodluck Jonathan’s speech writers consistently fail to explain what has gone wrong. If the president isn’t responsible for this mess, then who is?
The speech writers tried their best to avoid issues, but they couldn’t disguise the weaknesses, prevarication, inconsistency, incompetence, and ethical bankruptcy of their principal.
Rather than address the issue of why government refuses to honour agreements with ASUU, end the strike and re-open government universities which have been closed for months, they had the sheer effrontery to praise “men and women in academics who inculcate the knowledge and wisdom that transform into tomorrow’s wealth.”
In truth, the speech contained no analysis of Nigeria’s problems, no clearly stated solutions, no heartfelt compassion and no concrete message.
Assuming the president vetted his speech it is safe to say it contained exactly what he wanted. He started by saying he would not fall into the temptation of using a state occasion to male political capital. Although it is difficult to imagine what political capital he could make from our current predicament, he went on to talk about his phantom transformation agenda and the fact that that he is “pleased that we are on the right path to greatness”.
In addition, he thanked those who “have stood by this administration in the midst of mounting challenges”. He said he wants us to be free from fear, but at the same time refuses to sanction his supporters who threaten death and destruction if he is not re-elected.
He referred to his mid-term report on May 29th when he gave himself and his administration a pass mark, but did not explain say how come a few months later he sacked non-performing ministers. He contradicted himself when in one part of the speech he said “our people are divided in many ways ethnically, religiously, politically and materially,” and in another part he said “our sense of community, solidarity and shared expectation is strong.”
Avoiding comparison with our former contemporaries like Malaysia and Brazil who have progressed and left us behind, he referred to Syria as “that once idyllic nation has today become a theatre of human misery of unimaginable pro-portions…” It appears he isn’t aware that since he assumed office Nigeria has become “an abattoir of human flesh and blood”.
Even when President Jonathan made reference to our current disastrous situation, the best his speech writers could come up with was the feeble statement that “it is a difficult season for much of the world, industrialized or developing rich or poor”.
Despite poor economic indicators to the contrary he said “we have built an economy that is robust and erected enduring infrastructure and institutions of democracy”. Despite the increasing num-ber of armed robberies kidnapping and communal killings he claimed “our social system is now more inclusive, open and compassionate”.
Despite the unemployment being at its highest ever level, increasing widespread poverty and indicting reports on corruption he proudly announced that “we are waging a steady battle against poverty, unemployment and corruption!”
