John Elemi

For the Love of Country John Elemi

In the run up to the 2015 presidential election, the nation was tottering on the edge of the precipice, soaked in fear and palpable tension driven by heightened ethnic saliency, vile propaganda and apostles of hate. Doomsday prophets like John Campbell, former American Ambassador to Nigeria amongst others who had predicted the disintegration of the nation were in for a big surprise. Against all odds former president Goodluck Jonathan made what is arguably the most consequential call in our nation's history when he placed a call to President Muhammadu Buhari, the then opposition candidate to concede defeat. Incidentally, the ascendancy of President Buhari and his party, APC, to the presidency ushered the nation into an extraordinary eye of painful and terrible 'change', suffocating the nation in all spheres. One that the Nigerian nation now leads from the bottom of every human development index, predicated on this stark reality, is a chasm between the electorates and government, which will ultimately be interpreted in the forthcoming 2019 presidential poll. If this be the case, can Buhari do same like Jonathan did in 2015, considering how he militarized the recent Ekiti and Osun states gubernatorial electoral processes?For The Love Of Country captures succinctly, the significance of the historic telephone call by Jonathan, a momentous event which doused tensions, averted bloodshed and gave Nigeria another opportunity for a fresh beginning. Delivered in elegant and lucid prose, from the standpoint of a patriot, the book also takes the slant of historic expose, tracing in the process, the nation's challenges from pre-independence to date. It evokes memories of the great Nigerian possibility stymied by class, religion and ethnicity. Former president Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated uncommon courage, selflessness and patriotism, qualities which have transformed him into a global icon and the father of democracy in Africa. A legacy I hope other leaders around the world to emulate.