NIGERIANS REACT TO PLANS FOR JONATHAN'S IMPEACHMENT
Last Thursday, Nigeria has, once again, attracted the attention of both local and international media. Nigeria’s political giants, the PDP and the APC, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and President Goodluck Jonathan are now at loggerheads, with plans emerging to impeach either the President, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
We have asked Nigerians, via our official Facebook social platform, what they thought of the unprecedented political scandal that may or may not affect Nigeria’s future and unity in a negative way.
Nigerians hold both Tambuwal and Jonathan-led presidency responsible for the accident, as is apparent from the rather harsh commentaries directed at both parties.
Benjamin Emamoke Ayera: Tambuwal should honourably and voluntarily resign as Speaker of the House of Representatives in order for peace to reign in the National Assembly.
Victor Ozioko: Truly, most Nigerians are not well-educated, and the other groups are educated on papers but don’t have the patience to read between the lines. Let us understand the fundamental cause of the fracas before we start to make our inputs and pertinent comments. Mind you that for every effect there must be the associated cause to that effect. I am not going to dwell on the effects but on the cause. Constitutionally, when a political party brings any aspirant to power or to any office, if the aspirant is willing to decamp to another party, he must resign his present appointment before taking a new appointment in the other political party. So, as things stands, honourable Tambuwal should have resigned his appointment as the Speaker of the House before defecting to another policy party. You cannot eat your cake and still have it. Nobody should be deceived!
Kris Mac: Tambuwal is a prodigal son. He was elected under the platform of PDP, and he wants to quit the party. Let him leave (resign) his position, honourably. After all, it is the APC that started this open abuse (of naked dance) against the PDP. How then would you expect a man to react when he is pushed to the wall? The opposition has gotten what they bargained for, since they resorted to playing bitter politics of calling names, insults, and abusive comments. Since the opposition decided to discuss people instead of issues, they will continue to get the rough side the ruling party, PDP. God bless Nigeria.
Aggrieved Nigerians questioned Goodluck Jonathan’s achievements and resolve to serve Nigerians.
Ejike Benard: We South Easterners who support President Jonathan, what have we benefitted from his government? Can anyone of you mention just one improvement in your own states? Him answering to Azikiwe does not mean he is one of us. He is serving the interests of people who put him in power! I think we are better with Northerners than what we are seeing now!
Eche Emmanuel: Yes, let him be impeached. We (the poor masses) are tired of this clueless PDP-led administration.
Nurain Adebowale Adewoye: God is ready to impeach Jonathan now because the latter does not have an attribute of an Executive President. The President used police in Rivers, Ekiti, Osun states, and now at the National Assembly. Nigeria does not deserve to be run like a ‘banana republic’. Enough of the mess, all in the name of the second term. Second term is only meant for a performing President, not one who intends to run down the country with the abuse of the police by terrorizing the citizens of this great country. I see the President more as the President of the South South, judging by his comments and utterances. It is also on record that the votes of over 14 million Nigerians were not those of the Ijaws, Igbos, Hausas, and the Yorubas alone, they came from all Nigerians. So why would the President sit in Abuja while some political thugs in Ekiti beat up a judge of a High Court? It is a disgrace to your office, Mr. President. You’re gradually denigrating the culture of democracy. Sometimes I laugh at the adverts you run about great leaders like Martin Luther King, Mandela, and Obama. Please go and check their record: they never terrorized and intimidate their people. God will help this Country.
Nigerians conveyed their bitterness and disappointment in their messages. However, many of them are reluctant to blame any particular person for the fracas, but urged their fellow compatriots to make changes by starting with changing our priorities and attitudes.
Nasiru Abdullahi Shittu: We live in a country were rule of law is denied, people are above the law, and judiciary, legislative, and executive arms of the govt have no value. Only 10% of the population enjoy the wealth of the land. Insecurity is created and sustained for political interest, political parties belong to an individual, corruption has become the food of the land, religion serves as an avenue, social institutions have become family affairs, security of the land belong to the ruling party. We support regionalism rather than nation building, capitalism rather than socialism. Major and minor roads belong to insurgents and armed robbers, universities and higher education institutions are turning to stores, electoral commission belong to ruling party. Political godfatherism is thriving. I pray for structural change and political transformation.
Olufemi Olugbenro: Nigerians should be held responsible for voting those charlatans into power.
Amadi Progress: The problem we face in Nigeria today is the result of power struggle. Everyone wants to be in power, but our country has respect even for our leaders. People call them fools, idiots. What really happened in the House shows that the members are not leading by example. You see them climbing the gates, what example are they showing to the youths? Have you seen anything like this in any other country? Who is good in Nigeria, who is the saint? Are Buhari, or Atiku the saints who will take us to the Promised Land? We should be wise while making statements Nigeria.
Rotimi Wale Olusesi: While reading the comment on this topic, I felt like crying. Today is the day I regret being a Nigerian. Colleagues at my work have called my country a lot of names in my presence, and I could not alter a word. A show of shame! How can police stop lawmakers from performing the duties they are elected for? It only in Nigeria 7 out 26 members of the House can impeach a Speaker.
Plans to unseat President Jonathan have triggered some rather aggressive responses:
Sunday Festus: I dare them. Let them try and wait for our (Niger Deltans’) actions.
Nicholas Musa: It is not possible. Jonathan till 2019. Niger Deltans are not sleeping.
Some commentators felt like the latest crisis should be the tipping point in favour of dividing Nigeria:
Helen Alaboh: Impeach Jonathan. Let’s divide the country. Niger Delta is tired of being part of Nigeria. Let the North face their Boko Haram, then let’s see how Buhari, Tambuwal, Atiku will manage their almajiris. We will deport all the beggars back to senders.
Some are categorically opposed to the idea and call on their compatriots to “come to their senses”:
Umar Sanda Tanimu: Ok, you guys should go ahead and stop the oil, let me see what you will eat. Have youforgotten that the vegetables crop you eat is from the North? Let’s come to our senses. Fighting between ourselves will not bring us anything except suffering. I think it’s time we started thinking about the progress of this beautiful nation!
