Nigeriaâs politics: Goodluck Jonathan to the change?
Nigerias politics: Goodluck Jonathan to the change?
A flight from Brussels to Lagos of about eight hours, starting with a journey from middle Africa to Norway and writing about politics in Nigeria. Not an easy task to fulfil but not invincible.
Politics in Nigeria frowns eyebrows with most of the people who have nothing to do with the subject.Although, the type of governance is almost completely modelled after the United States: a Federal Republic with influences of the Westminster System. This model is similar to the upper and lower houses of the bicameral legislature in the United Kingdom. The fact that Nigeria is a former colony of the United Kingdom elucidates a lot.[1]
Walking down the streets in Lagos, Im wondering whos the president of Nigeria. A passer-by tells me concisely but vigorously it is Goodluck Jonathan. At first, I thought he wished me good luck on my trip, supposing my name was Jonathan but later I became conscious of the fact that Goodluck Jonathan turned out to be the president of Nigeria.
Goodluck Jonathan[2][3] became acting president in the beginning of 2010 due to a medical treatment of the then president, Umaru YarAdua. In May of that year, the state of health of YarAdua weakened which led to his death. Jonathan was designated officially as the 14th president since Nigerias independency.[4] Considering Nigerias tightly related to the USA on political base, elections are held each four years. In 2011, the year of presidential elections, Jonathan excelled his opponent, Muhammadu Buhari, with approximately 56% of the Nigerian votes. His challenges are to throw overboard the fuel subsidy which is causing a drag on the economy, solve the problems around the terrorism and maintain security[5].
The following day my intentions are moving North-Eastwards to Nigerias capital, Abuja, finding out more about the composition of the parliament with its different parties. Im heading to the National Assembly of Nigeria[6] where I have an appointment with the President of the Senate, David Mark. The parliament is constituted of seven parliamentary parties of which one party definitely shows off with about two-thirds majority. This is the so-called Peoples Democratic Party[7] (PDP) of which current president Jonathan and the man to whom Im speaking are members.
In contrast with the ultra-conservative All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) which is the direct opponent, the PDP is leaning more on the liberal side with a conservative touch. Unity and democracy are two pillars of the party. It is also aiming for a religious freedom but refuses to accept homosexuality, a sensible subject for more parties in entire Africa.
Basically two things are bothering me after my stay in Nigeria. The influences of the colony-period are incalculable and unfortunately is there a predominating conservative way in Nigerias government policy. Goodluck Jonathan has still got a lot of work to do and hopefully is he living up to his name.
We, Jonathan, Laurens, Michèle and Xenia, are traveling around the world and every week we move to a new destination with new adventures and new stories. We will start our journey in Nigeria in the week of 14th February. Our final destination will be, eventually, Norway.
