STONING COULD BE THE WAY FORWARD* A CASE STUDY OF JONATHAN AND SYLVA

In an attempt to reaffirm his support, early this month, President Jonathan travelled to his home state, Bayelsa State, to lead the campaign team of Seriake Dickson, the candidate of the People`s Democratic Party (PDP) in a governorship election scheduled for February 11, 2012. At the rally centre in Yenogoa, the state capital for Bayelsa State, President Jonathan weighed in on Timipre Sylva, the state recently sacked embattled governor. The President in his

speech made mention of two things, He talked about the stoning incident in Yenagoa  that he watched with pleasure and the tower hotel  project in Yenagoa that was conceptualised by the government of chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, which he later took over as governor of Bayelsa State and passed on to Sylva as governor.

Having provided good reasons against the former governor, the president while addressing the audience told the party`s gubernatorial candidate for the forthcoming election, he said, “a few months ago Bayelsans stoned the governor for bad governance, to avoid similar fate you must work hard to ensure that they do not stone you because if you do not work hard and they stone you, I will join them to stone you”

Having considered this statement critically it appealed to me that according to Mr. President, stoning is a yardstick for poor performance and as such, that is the reward bad political office holders should receive from the citizenry. It immediately struck my mind that if stoning was the answer for bad governance and unpopular policies, guess what would have happened to President Jonathan if he had appeared at any of the rallies that was initiated by the fuel subsidy removal protest that brought the country to her kneels early this year especially in major cities like, Lagos, Kano, Ibadan, Abuja and the likes. I am so sure that he wouldn`t have escaped unhurt.

As a matter of fact I wish and I pray earnestly that the days will come when Nigerians will be bold enough to begin to show their grievances cruelly against bad and corrupt governance.

I really pray to come quickly a time when political office holders will be stoned to death for their acts of selfishness and wickedness against the masses that gave them their mandates. By the time one or two corrupt persons are stoned to death that will in a way serve as a deterrent to others.

Hopefully one day, Nigerians will wake up to buy this nice concept and may be that will help us a bit.