With the 2015 elections barely two weeks away, the emotions and hearts of the electorate should be the target of candidates as they continue to canvass for votes in their quest for victory.
However, evidence of late shows that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan seems to be gradually gaining a bad reputation for its carelessness and scandalous abuse of the rule of law.
In recent times, we have seen the presidency guilty of abusing the rule of law with the appointment of Musiliu Obanikoro to the Senate even with an ongoing election rigging saga that has plagued the former minister of state for defence. Here the presidency had to hire the services of the Senate president, David Mark. Also fresh in our memories is the president’s swift move to sack Martin Luther Agwai, the former SURE-P chairman for his words against the presidency. Not leaving out the verbal abuse of the president’s wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, on the APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.
Many have indicated that the president looks to be on the downside going into the election and a notable example was what happened last night at #ShowbizInteractiveWithGEJ which saw President Goodluck Jonathan host Nigerian celebrities in an interactive session at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites located on Lagos Island.
It was reported that just before the arrival of the president, the Jonathan government again took its non-allegiance to standard government practice to another level.
In an attempt to woo the support of celebrities last night, President Jonathan looked to have lost one vote in the person of Nigerian female singing sensation, Lami Phillips.
Some will say it is one of many, but as an author once said, “It does not take a majority to prevail … but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brush fires of freedom in the minds of men”.
President Jonathan might gradually be walking a tightrope.
The talented singer may just be one of many but that does not disguise the fact that President Jonathan may be shooting himself in the foot unawares.
An outraged Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) took to her Twitter handle to share a story of how her car parked on the road with at least 20 other cars, had their tyres deflated because the number one citizen of the country (President Goodluck Jonathan) was to arrive at Eko Hotel yesterday for the #ShowbizInteractiveWithGEJ event.
An irate Lami Phillips said:
“So President Jonathan was passing Eko hotel & all cars parked on the road had tyres deflated; Including mine. Awesome move before elections!!”
“President GEJ, I am of d firm opinion that you are a good man. Whoever thought it was a good idea 2 deflate my tyres tonight cost U my vote. I was still deciding but now I know. God bless”
“It’s amazing that some ignorant loyalists go to name calling and excuse giving .what is wrong is wrong.im a citizen not a slave. Shame”
“I thank God I had my team with me. I would have been alone at night and unsafe. My government should protect me not make me scared”.
” Everyone at the event at at Maison Fareinheit knows it happened. Instead of covering we should be apologized to and his security detail sanctioned”.
“Like I said (for the sake of his blind supporters) I like the president and think he is a good man. But whoever on his team thought this was a good idea should be corrected. Over 10 cars properly parked wet victims. I bet the president had no knowledge of this. But this is 2015. What is wrong is wrong. We are not slaves, we are citizens”.
”They will say i talk too much. What is wrong is wrong”.
“And it’s interesting all those defending the injustice take to name calling. A real compassionate human would ask if I am okay and safe”.
So President Jonathan was passing Eko hotel & all cars parked on the road had tyres deflated;Including mine.Awesome move before elections!!
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
President GEJ, I am of d firm opinion that you r a good man. Whoever thought it was a good idea 2 deflate … http://t.co/FWs7GgXSas
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
It’s amazing that some ignorant loyalists go to name calling and excuse giving .what is wrong is wrong.im a citizen not a slave. Shame
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
I thank God I had my team with me. I would have been alone at night and unsafe. My government should protect me not make me scared.
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
Everyone at the event at at Maison Fareinheit knows it happened. Instead of covering we should be … http://t.co/tsbShytg4Z
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
Like I said (for the sake of his blind supporters) I like the president and think he is a good man. But … http://t.co/BIn2WH2TP8
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
They will say i talk too much. What is wrong is wrong. https://t.co/VtitpLRnyF
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
And it’s interesting all those defending the injustice take to name calling. A real compassionate human would ask if I am ok and safe.
— Lami Phillips (@lamiphillips) March 15, 2015
She further went on to narrate how the incident actually occurred:
“Yesterday I put out this tweet and since then it has become an issue. I shouldn’t have to explain myself as it is my twitter space and opinion but clearly freedom of speech is something we still have to negotiate on this side of the world.
I was a guest at Maison Fareinheit for an event. I had decided to drive myself and have an easy Sunday. On getting to the location the officials there in some uniform asked that I park on the road along with at least 20 other cars. The cars where parked properly and there was room for thoroughfare.
At some point I asked my assistant to get something from my car. She got there to find policemen who claimed to be security detail for the president ordering that all tires should be deflated. She pleaded with them at which point they threatened bodily harm. All the cars on that side of the road where deflated. As far as I know there was no sign saying “no parking” . There was no announcement that any government official would be in town and therefore certain areas were off bounds. I have been for several events at Eko Hotel and more in that area and that space has always been used for parking. This is the only incident that may indicate that perhaps when government officials are in town it is illegal. I still haven’t gotten clarity on that because I asked.
Before I formed an opinion I asked myself what the deflation of the tires solved. Had the cars been towed over claims that they were illegally parked with proof, I surely would be quiet. Had the cars been blocking the road I would be quiet. I pride myself in being a good obedient Nigerian citizen. After all when we go to other countries we obey their laws. My issue here is there was no clarity on what law was broken or what we did to deserve that.
I wondered for a second what would have happened had I been alone unaware of the situation. Where would I have gotten help last night. How unsafe would it be at that time to seek help.
I was not alone. A man whose wife was pregnant came out of another building to find his tires also deflated. Several others too.
We should not live in fear. We should live in freedom. If they were empowered to do this it is wrong”.
With this, it is quite evident that the house of the president looks quite shambolic going into the election and certainly a wake up call for the president.
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