By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem
Aside the demise of frontline nationalist, Chief Anthony Enahoro, that hugged all the headlines on Thursday, last week was another round of politicking by the President, governors and other 2011 gladiators, who succeeded in relegating issues of state to the background in favour of their respective ambitions.
Jonathan and Atiku in particular engaged each other in a war of words towards the close of the week. The latter made a statement that was deemed to be threatening the peace and stability of the country while the former promised to arrest him if he won't desist from heating up the polity with his unguarded utterances.
The front page of Monday Daily Sun was a perfect reflection of the sick nature of the country's polity. The kicker said: "PDP primaries," while the headline read: "Storm over electoral act." Two accompanying riders added that: "As stakeholders meet to stop Senate," and "Govs in crucial meeting."
The Nation continued in the same vein with: "2011: Crisis hits PDP" and a rider: "Governors advise President to reject Electoral Act amendments." As for Vanguard, the headline was: "PDP govs threaten Jonathan over electoral act," and the rider: "Plan to pull out if he assents to the bill."
Guardian and Punch however chose to go with the rather tame excuse offered by the Minister of Defence, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, on the stealing of INEC's DDC machines at the Lagos Airport the previous week. The minister had over the weekend, said that petty criminals and not politicians, were responsible for the unfortunate incident.
Guardian took the headline as: "Why INEC's DDC machines were stolen, by govt." three riders said: "Security agents quiz FAAN officials," "CAN seeks probe" and: "Court hears suit on supply today."
Punch had it as: "Petty criminals stole DDC machines - Defence Minister." The rider said: "it's a cock and bull story, says ACN."
Stories emanating from governors' protest of the lawmakers' bid to force themselves on the National Executive Council (NEC) of their respective parties dominated headlines on Tuesday. Aside threatening to quit the party, governors under the platform of Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) went to court to stop the bill. They also met the President on Monday and advised him not to sign the bill for the sake of peace in the polity.
Daily Trust's lead story came with the headline: "28 govs threaten to quit PDP," with the rider, "… over MPs' NEC membership bill." Daily Sun came under a kicker: "Electoral Act Amendment" and the headline read: "Govs head for court."
The Nation took the story as: "Governors to Jonathan: Don't sign Electoral Act." A rider also read: "Governors' Forum advises Senators to show maturity."
Guardian however chose to place ex Governor of Delta state, James Ibori's misfortune in far-away Dubai on its cover. The headline read: Dubai court Okays Ibori's extradition to UK." The cover also came with the large image of the miserable- looking fugitive.
And on Wednesday, reports from the National Assembly that the lawmakers finally bowed to pressure and suspended the controversial NEC bill were everywhere. "Guardian took it as: "Reps suspend passage of amended Electoral Act" and a rider: "State's Speakers, others reject amendments." Vanguard has the same story as: "Senators, Reps retreat under Govs' fire."
Punch has it from another angle: "PDP govs shout down Nwodo at NEC meeting." A rider also said: "Party to decide committee membership." ThisDay had it as: "Senate bows to public outcry, drops NEC bid" with a rider: "House suspends electoral bill as protest rocks N'Assembly"
Thursday's headlines were all about Enahoro, who had passed on the previous morning after living such an overwhelmingly graceful life. Deservedly, tributes poured in from left, right and centre.
All national dailies displayed different versions of the elder statesman's picture on their cover. Guardian took its headline as: "Nigerians ponder loss of Enahoro, nation's future"
Leadership had its headline as: "Last of the titans, Enahoro, falls." Two riders added that: "Jonathan, Mark, others mourn," and his last moments, life, struggles." As for The Nation, the headline simply read: "Icon Enahoro dies at 87." A rider also said: "Dignitaries mourn frontline nationalist, activist and advocate of true federalism"
President Goodluck Jonathan had, on the same day, presented a budget N4.2 trillion to the National Assembly for the 2011 fiscal. He as well made some critical economic policy statements. ThisDay to lead with story and the headline read: "FG targets unemployment with massive public works."
Friday headlines were all about the exchange of words between Jonathan and his major foe for the PDP presidential ticket, Atiku. First, he said in the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that politicians like Atiku should watch their words or would be made to face the law for treasonable offences. That was in reaction to the latter's comment the previous day that: "Those who make peaceful change impossible make violent change inevitable."
Same day, the President and 28 governors of the party had a deal to have the gubernatorial primaries first before presidential. In return, the governors, led by Ibrahim Shema of Katsina state, agreed to support Jonathan in the primaries.
The Nation's interesting headline said: "Jonathan to Atiku: talk treason and face the law." The riders said: "Atiku: it's a desperate measure to divert attention," and: "SSS cautions politicians against reckless utterances." Guardian headline read: "Jonathan warns politicians against inciting utterances," the rider: "Says nation is superior to any individual."
ThisDay and Vanguard led with the endorsement received by the president from governors. The respective headlines read the same as: "21 PDP governors endorse Jonathan."
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