<\/p>\n
By Edwin Uhara
\nIn the coming weeks, active political activities for next year General
\nElections will kick start fully and officially! It will be a time to
\nexpect the unexpected. A time for massive defections from one party to
\nanother in furtherance of one political interest. A time for
\naccusations and counter accusations. A time to open the dossiers of
\npoliticians for public scrutiny. A time for truthful or deceptive
\npolitical promises among others. Just like we say in journalism
\nprofession; \u20ac\u0153If it can bleed, then it can lead\u20ac. The coming weeks will
\nbe time when my colleagues in the media who are still standing idly,
\nwatching and studying the nation political activities will be divided
\nalong party lines promoting, attacking and defending the interest of one
\ncandidate or the other depending on the terms, it will be the time when my
\narticles will no longer appear in certain media organizations.<\/p>\n
However, President Good luck Ebele Jonathan should note that, as a top
\ncandidate for the forth coming Presidential Election, most aspirants would
\nturn him to be their punching bag with the sole intention of discrediting
\nhim while enhancing their own chances for the polls. Hence, he should
\nnever put up \u20ac\u0153A too big to fail attitude\u20ac throughout the
\nelectioneering campaigns! He should not leave anything to chance because
\nan unconsidered variable in an election of this magnitude may turn out to
\nbe the major issue; especially now that the major battle is going to be
\nbetween the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives
\nCongress (APC).<\/p>\n
Therefore, the would-be Jonathan official presidential handlers
\nshould do away with some of the attitudes similar organization put up
\nduring the 2011 presidential campaigns. They must put Jonathan
\ninterest at the forefront and be open to good ideas and recognize
\nindividual and collective efforts that will ensure that Jonathan is
\nreturned to office next year, instead of wrongly thinking or assuming
\nthat anybody coming around is coming to dislodge them from their vantage
\nposition. The truth is that, if they refuse to show altruistic commitment
\nand supports to the President re-election bid and allows selfish
\ninterest and the spoils of the moment to deny him re-election, Jonathan
\nas a person has nothing to lose! Rather, when the worse comes to worst,
\nJonathan would join the league of African Statesmen. In this regards, it
\nis them that will bear the brunt of their mistakes than President
\nJonathan himself! Also, it is the Nigerian people, the
\nintellectual and business community that will be most affected, and as a
\nresult this, they would be bugged down by the miasma of policy
\ninstability. I say this because, I personally do not believe in frequent
\nchange of government and policies.
\nBesides, President Jonathan should not maintain complacency in
\nextra-ordinary times because, that was the strategy that cost former
\nFrench President, Nicolas Sarkozy his re-election bid in 2012. It will be
\nrecalled that when the opposition party led by Francois Hollande was
\nroaring like lion and leading in various opinion polls, Nicolas Sarkozy
\nwas displaying nonchalant attitude and an image of a bound to win
\ncandidate. So, before he could realize what was happening, the
\nopposition party; the Socialist Party which had been in disarray after the
\nfall of its predicted Presidential candidate and former Managing Director
\nof the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Dominique Strauss-Khan, had
\nalready gained much grounds.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, when they went in to the election proper, Francois Hollande
\ndefeated Mr. Sarkozy. Im however not saying this will happen to
\nPresident Jonathan, but it a call on him to seat up and march or
\nsurpass the opposition in every front till the Independent National
\nElectoral Commission (INEC) declares him winner of the February 14, 2015
\nPresidential Elections! Though, some of us will move back to trenches to
\nensure his absolute victory so as to avoid any form of run-off next year!
\nHence, I decided to cite the experience of Nicolas Sarkozy and his party,
\nthe Union for Popular Movement (UPM) so that Jonathan official
\nPresidential handlers will learn nostalgic lessons from the misadventure.<\/p>\n
This is because, those managing any presidential candidate must be open to
\nnew ideas at all times; especially game-changing ones. These are ideas
\nthat can leapfrog a backward candidate to the leading position in the
\nrace. They should note that, Nigeria is changing and as a result, ideas
\nthat worked in previous elections may not work in the coming election or
\nmay simply require little review and improvement so as to march the
\nunfolding political realities in the days ahead!<\/p>\n
Secondly, presidential handlers should always consider the interest of
\ntheir candidate first before any other considerations! They should be
\nfocused, dedicated and always be loyal to their candidate. They should
\nnever be two-faced Janus or found running with the here and hunting with
\nthe hound or backstabbing their candidate and cutting deals with his
\nopponents. Some of the things I highlight here were some of the egregious
\npolitical mistakes I personally observed while working with the
\nJonathan\/Sambo Presidential campaign train during the 2011 elections.<\/p>\n
Finally, from every political calculations and permutations devoid of
\nPropaganda, President Jonathan is still on the lead even as he needs more
\nworks to be done in the area of grassroots mobilization and sensitization.
\nHence, lets us continue to be proactive while waiting for the right time
\nto officially give him the green light to continue in office through our
\nballots.
\nComrade Edwin Uhara is a Political Strategist, an Activist, Media
\nConsultant and Public Affairs Commentator. Reach him on 07065862479 or
\nedwinuhara@rocketmail.com
\nHe writes from Abuja.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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