The much speculated and perceived re-election bid of President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015, no doubt has become a major concern to the opposition party and some individuals who have tagged themselves perpetual critics of President Jonathan and his administration.
Though, it will be recalled that President Jonathan has been facing series of criticisms from groups, opposition parties and several individuals without stating or justifying the crime the President has committed against Nigerians.
Some persons, including political analysts have actually asked what the President has done wrong to warrant the ceaseless criticism, despite the present administration’s laudable achievements.
One such person is High Chief Ebikpolade Mark Bou, aka Otobo 1, a prominent leader from the Niger Delta region.
In a statement he issued recently, titled “Stop Making President Jonathan a Punching Bag” the strong supporter of President Jonathan actually differentiated between genuine criticism and deliberate or unconstructive criticism.
He frowned at the uncivilised way political and social analyst have been unjustly criticising President Jonathan, and all in the game plan to distract the President, which many have described as a deliberate plot to stop or frustrate the perceived re-election bid of the President come 2015.
The Warri based business tycoon and renowned philanthropist, further pointed that it is quite unfortunate that in the current political dispensation , it has become a tradition and emerging trend in the polity that anyone who wishes or wants his voice to be heard, does so by throwing blows with the force of bitter criticism at President Jonathan.
It is amazing that even with all the positive achievements being recorded by the present administration, these critics of President Jonathan seems to have refused to see anything good in the President, in his exemplary leadership qualities and style, his people oriented policies and administrative initiatives that have impacted positively on Nigerians and indeed the country’s economy.
High Chief Mark Bou, who is also the President of Niger Delta Oil and Gas Communities Consultative Forum NDOGCCF, further pointed that the critics of President Jonathan and his administration were indeed on a fruitless mission.
He noted that Nigerians, particularly the critics of President Jonathan should know that even in the American democracy which Nigeria’s democracy is fashioned after, once the president is elected and sworn-in, the whole nation and all the citizens collectively gives the president backing for proper administration of the nation, but in Nigeria the reveres is the case.
According to him, the proper thing to do by Nigerians irrespective of political affiliations and position is proffering achievable ideas, initiatives and also joining hands with those in authority to ensuring the realisation of our collective desired expectations and positive results, but that is difficult to do in Nigeria.
Adding that what is easy in Nigeria is to unjustly criticise and condemn those in authority, noting that though in democracy useful and constructive criticisms are most welcome.
He quoted a foremost British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disreali, who posited that; “It is easier to be critical than be correct” and a Mata Scientist, Dr. George King, who noted that; “any fool can talk, but to demonstrate is a different thing altogether”
According to Christian N Bovee, “The legitimate aim of criticism is to direct attention to the Excellent”. High Chief Mark Bou, pointed that the aim of criticism has been defeated as variety and unconstructiveness constitute the essence and inspiration behind the bouts of criticisms President Jonathan have been receiving on daily basis.
He said “this unfortunate trend is simply an abuse of the freedom of speech to an extent that in line with the principles of constructive criticism and if any criticism is not constructive then it could be destructive or not in tandem with the national ideals of unity and progress.
“I have observed the polity and the challenges and realities being faced by Jonathan’s administration, and without fear of favour, most of the bitter and unconstructive criticisms which President Jonathan has received and still accommodate are designed to surreptitiously and overtly derail, confuse and distract him from achieving his masses-centre objectives’’.
He maintained that though there are few who criticised genuinely, but most of the critics of Jonathan’s administration are core and perpetual detractors.
“They are being threatened by the laudable performance of President Jonathan and his incomparable vision for Nigerians and the country, this his detractors have seen that the President is heading to somewhere and they are doing everything possible to stop him, though they cannot stop him’’.
These detractors of President Jonathan are afraid that if President Jonathan is allowed to continue, which he would, the unbalanced equation will become balanced and such emergent and effectual balancing of the various equations of sorts will rob them of the undue or unfair advantages, resource-inflow and resource misappropriation they have been enjoying over the years.
High Chief Mark Bou, continued that it is a clear fact and evident that enemies of President Jonathan’s administration use the platform of public opinion and criticism to pour their venom, in the bite of bitter or sour criticism.
He called on these critical lot, that they should for once appreciate the Herculean task of cleaning the dirty national stable of corruption, adding that most enemies of the president were ex-warlords using military tactics of distraction in their already fruitless and unrealistic attempt to derail or prevent President Jonathan from taking or making political and executive moves that will pull them down in to an uncomfortable position, hence an open barrage of criticism is one of their employed tools.
High Chief Mark Bou, further pointed clearly that the people of Niger Delta should take cognisance of the unconstructive critics of President Jonathan and why it is imperative for Niger Deltans to protect their own, whenever he or she is oppressed or unduly subjugated to undue ridicule.
He said, in which case of President Jonathan is he engineered to making his administration unpopular, noting that such vain and wicked critics should be henceforth desist from.
The Niger Delta leader, continued that; “those who want to see will surely see the works of President Jonathan and I encourage his critics to look inward with a broad mind and they will be surprised to see the gentle and creative man from the Niger Delta is doing and he is working”
Finally, he charged Nigerians, both supporters and critics of the president to collectively join President Jonathan in his self-assigned task to making Nigeria one of the greatest economies of the 21st century and a land of justice, peace and brotherhood.