Jonathan the ‘Coup Master’ – by Frank Ofili

Walahi, this man is a coup master.

Remember how he deftly pulled the rug out of our legs in January 2012 over fuel subsidy? Expertly done. And he was right. Yes, I believed (still believe) he was right, in spite of the emotions then.

Organized Labour and civil society organizations mobilized against him in what they called “Occupy Nigeria”. They moved against him, not because he was wrong, but because of the way he out-maneuvered everybody.

Even in the heat of it all, he still managed to bamboozle Occupy Nigeria and they capitulated half-way. The man got half-full cup instead of an empty one. Not bad.

Now see what he has done to Seriake the son of Dickson, a sitting governor in his home state of Bayelsa.

Jonathan imposed Dickson as governorship flagbearer in 2012 against a more popular Timi Alaibe.

Now, see how in one deft move he installed a not-too-known David Lyon of APC, and thus truncated Dickson’s plans to have his own political godson succeed him as governor.

And how did the former president do this? First, a visit to Aso Rock. Then, he got his wife, Patience, to throw her weight behind a man called Lyon, the APC governorship candidate. Signal crafted.

Next, he got his own mother to publicly pray for Lyon’s victory at the polls. Signal sent.

Then he made a public statement in which he said that as a former president, his interest and constituency is everybody irrespective of political party they belong. Signal confirmed.

Finally, he urged Bayelsans to vote, not for his party, but for their choice. Damage done.

And Dickson found himself clutching the short end of the stick. And the rest is now history. Chess move.