Many Nigerians in 2011 voted for President Jonathan largely based on the synopsis of his campaign “If I can make it, you too can make it”. This to many, was indicative of the “breath of fresh air” espoused by his campaign. Ordinary Nigerians could relate to the narrative representing the belief of those at the lower rungs of our society. The President created for himself a messiah’s dilemma- allowing the people think he could solve all their problems overnight.
His candidacy gave an impression that he understood, the hopes and fears, the aspirations, and concerns of the common man. He gained credibility by conveying that he cared, that he understood the sufferings of Nigerians following the uncertainty that heralded the winding down of the Yar’Adua’s presidency.
But over the years, with many successive events that have tested our faith as a nation, voters have started to question the rationale for their votes in 2011. As the nation grappled with public scandals, corruption allegations, terror, and economic uncertainty- despite many gains in several sectors of the economy- the President lost his charm.
The buyers’ remorse felt by voters some argue is largely tied to how his presidency is managed. Critics opine he doesn’t seem to show enough concern to the plight of the people with a body language of indifference. As Theodore Roosevelt once said “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” and this seems like what will most likely decide the President’s fate on February 14th, 2015.
This was not helped by the many-failed opportunities to connect with prevalent modes of the country: days silence on Chibok girls seeming as though he was out of tone; failure to visit Chibok or Unity Fountain ground as he did the Nyanya bombing; seemingly nebulous stance on corruption allegations; blithe disposition to the sufferings of the people. For these, voters are turning away from the President, as they ask themselves “after four years, what is ‘Good’ and where is the ‘luck’?”
For President Jonathan to reverse this trend, he needs to change the masses’ impression of him. He needs to find a more subtle way of easing into the moral pulse of the nation. And to be fair to him, this is generally a problem for 1st term leaders- justifying their quest for another term. But many have done it simply by either forcing the people to recognize tangible progress they have made in their own lives (“Morning again in America”- Reagan); or by giving the impression that they are in sync with the voters (“All the way with LBJ”- Johnson).
Drawing from all these, President Jonathan needs to find a way to make the voters feel that his policies are responsible for their advancement no matter how little; or that he “feels their pain” as Bill Clinton could. He can do these with actions or the language of his campaign. He can’t just rely only on defining the opposition; it is almost a losing strategy to do just that.
President Jonathan needs to be more proactive as Lyndon B. Johnson was after the September 9, 1965 Hurricane Betsy devastation of New Orleans in Louisiana- a state he lost in his presidential race. After a phone call with Senator Long who clamored for federal help, Johnson took Air Force One to the state. He visited the George Washington Elementary School, which was being used as a shelter for mostly Blacks. Johnson entered the crowded shelter in the dark with just few pathway lights. Upon entering, he announced, “This is your President! I’m here to help you!”
This episode helped LBJ shape public confidence in government. At a time many have lost confidence in government’s ability to protect or provide for them, Jonathan needs to step up and step into the scene by reaching out directly to the people, and making them know he is here to help them. He needs to sympathize with grieving mothers in the North East and be decisive on terror; give audience to business people dealing with recent hard economic realities; and reach out to younger citizens calling for greater openness in government on social media.
Voters know how to appreciate such gestures. For Jonathan, this shouldn’t be difficult especially because of his likeability factor, and in light of the many tangible gains in infrastructure, aviation, agriculture, power et al. Jonathan needs to sell these and other future plans to the voters. If he is able to accomplish this before the next election, he will not only gain votes but will have momentum to define his legacy.
This for any leader is all that matters in history especially when we remember the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only American President to win a 3rd term. When he died from a stroke on April 12th, 1945 and his body was being moved by train from Warm Spring, Georgia to Washington, thousands of mourners stood for hours in the rain waiting for his body to go by. On the streets of Washington, people held up signs saying, “He got me a job,” or “He saved my home.” A reporter saw a man weeping profusely and asked him, “Why are you here? Did you know Franklin Roosevelt?” The mourner replied: “No, I did not know Roosevelt, but he knew me.”