THE office of the President is defined, in part,by the challenges that confront the country.And the lagacy any president leaves behind is largely a function of the issues a president chooses to address.Such issues must be tackled with clarity of purpose.That’s why trust becomes an essential part of leadership.It’s so because a leader’s authority comes from the public belief in the right and ability of the person at the helm to govern.
Very often,Presidents who made lasting impact  were those seen to be the rock of consistency.They did what they promised they would do.And they become champions of the causes that helped bring them to office. Such Presidents deserve garlands, not condemnation.     There’s no doubt that Nigeria’s democracy needs a comprehensive electoral reform.This is because, often  elections have become contentious.It’s understandable. Nothing of great value is given away without struggle.
But success in any democracy must depend on how credible and transparent the elections are.The votes must count.
The will of the people must be seen to prevail.                               Essentially,it’s a function of two factors:the impartiality of the electoral umpire,and most importantly,the sincerity of the president and non-interference of the government in power in the electoral process.
Politics,it must be said  requires that those who hold public office should define themselves and where they stand on crucial issues.      When he assumed office,first as Acting President in 2010,and later in 2011 as an elected President,Dr.Goodluck Ebele Jonathan did make a harvest of promises.But perhaps the promise that attracted the most attention,both in Nigeria and abroad,was electoral reforms.Every where he went,every speech he delivered, President Jonathan made a solemn assurance of a credible,free and transparent elections.It was a renewed sense of hope,that elections in Nigeria would no longer be a “do-or die” affair.        Promise,it be must reiterated,thrives on trust,on shared purpose.It should have no place for self-interest.It must be anchored on a vision.That should act as a reference point  upon which the president will be judged.
Unlike his predecessors, President Jonathan has been walking the talk on his electoral promise.Under his watch,five staggered governorship elections have been conducted.The affected States are Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun.Instructively,the President party,the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)has won only in one State,Ekiti,where Ayodele Fayose defeated incumbent governor,Dr.Kayode Fayemi.
Credit should go to the President for his honesty and commitment.For promise kept.In all these States mentioned,Jonathan was  one of the early callers to congratulate the winner and commended INEC as well.Unlike his predecessors,he has undoubtedly provided a level playing ground.This never happened during Obasanjo’s administration or any government before it.
Sadly,Jonathan is not getting the deserved commendation.Even Obasanjo who never allowed any level playing field for the opposition parties during his tenure,has made Jonathan a subject of constant attack. The truth is that the President and his party have been unfairly criticised in the recently held gubernatorial election in Osun,in which the incumbent All Progressives Congress(APC)governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,thrashed the PDP candidate, Senator Iyiola Omisore.Yet,the APC claims that the PDP led federal government “rigged the  election.
I doubt if the outcome of Osun poll would have been the sam ife   Obasanjo was in power today.The utterances of the APC leadership despite its victory in Osun remindes me of the remarks by one of the foremost ancient Chinese philosophers and poets,Lau Tzu.To paraphrase him,”as for the best leaders,the people do not notice their existence.The next best,the people hate.When the best leader’s work is done,the people say,”we did it ourselves”.
It’s indeed unkind watching APC still howling railing accusations at the presidency over the Osun poll weeks after the election was over.The party still refuses to acknowledge that the President made “things happen” in Osun,on August 9,and possibly would have influenced the outcome if he wanted to.
As noted earlier, nothing makes  democracy as good as when the votes of the people are allowed to count.In spite of whatever may have been the failings of Jonathan presidency,it is unfair not to give him credit where he has done well.And for sure,he has made INEC work a lot easier.And,of course,INEC is taking more of the credit for  a “job well done”.
If the President continues this way,through next year’s crucial elections when his name will be on the ballot,history will be kind to him,even if historians dont.
As a former American President, Lyndon Johnson wrote in his College newspaper,”the world today is looking for men who are not for sale,(but)men who are masters of themselves and their tempers,men who place principle above all else,men who are honest and can be trusted,men who are willing to lose sight of self,ease and pleasure in the effort to serve others”.
I must confess that until lately I have not been a fan of President Jonathan.Reason:Until recently,he seemed ambivalent and unsure about how to use power to achieve results for himself and the good of the country.But,gradually,he has begun to master the informal channels of  power,without using it for selfish interest.He’s no longer the waka just pass president that many said he was in the early years of his administration.
While it may be too early to give the President the final cheer,I think as far as the electoral reform is concerned,he has done remarkably well.There’s no doubt that our electoral process has been sanitized even though much still need to be done as we move feverishly close to next year’s general elections,a year that will be a defining moment for our democracy.
One however agrees with the president that subjective criticism of government has been most unfair. Nonetheless,the president’s reposite of his administration without a “marking scheme” does not detract from the fact that Nigerians will continue to assess his administration by the stark realities of their personal lives,including protection of their votes,an area he has unarguably stood out. Over all,President has proved that credible elections are possible in Nigeria.It takes a sense of purpose and commitment to walk the talk.
But election is a process,not an end in itself.Success in a democracy is a collaborative effort.The politicians who are the key elements in the process need to renew their minds.For now,President Jonathan can be trusted to deliver on credible elections in Nigeria.

Elections:GEJ walks the talk