The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jonathan

  • Is transformation agenda on course?

    Is transformation agenda on course?

    Two years ago, President Goodluck Jonathan  unfolded his Transformation Agenda  during the presidential election campaigns.  AUGUSTINE AVWODE, LEKE SALAUDEEN and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examine its implementation in the light of current realities.

    THE transformation Agenda was a popular catch-phrase during the 2011 presidential campaigns. It was what President Goodluck Jonathan presented to Nigerians. The aim was to change the way things were done and give the country a new sense of direction. Though there was nothing magical about it, the campaign slogan took on a life of its own. The Transformation Agenda elevated President Jonathan to a would-be messianic figure. Expectations were high. Nigerians went into the election and voted for him.

    The President has appealed to Nigerians to be objective in scoring his administration. He was speaking during the presentation of a mid-term report of his administration as part of the programme to mark the Democracy Day celebration. The government, through its functionaries, gave the administration a pass mark. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, the the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of National Planning, Dr Shamsudeen Usman said the government has lived up to expectation.

    At the ceremony, President Jonathan, said: “Today, we are marking the end of the first 24 months, which is our mid-term review and my duty is to formally present a document that all Nigerians will be able to read and assess us.

    “The idea is to formally present a document to all Nigerians about the activities of government in the past two years. I plead with all of us, especially those who want to assess and write about it, to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark any student’s paper. Two years of a government, this is what we have done, develop your marking scheme and score us.”

    Critical sectors Job creation Unemployment has been a major social problem globally. An army of unemployed youths roam the streets in major cities across the country. The government was expected to pursue certain policy measures to reinvigorate important sectors of the economy such that employment opportunities would be created. But from mere observation, aside the indices reeled out by the government as signs of an improving economy, many unemployed youths still roam the streets looking for what to do just to keep body and soul together.

    Public expenditure management

    One common malaise of the government public expenditure has been that recurrent expenses are more than capital expenditure. The argument has been that if the government is desirous of making appreciable impact in infrastructure development, it should be able to free the budget from the vice like grip of recurrent expenditure and so make more funds available for that purpose.

    Power

    Notwithstanding the billions spent by previous administrations on the power sector, the economy remains dangerously dependent on generating sets that are imported.

    The government has said it will hit 10,000 megawatts by December this year. But for now, the situation is, perhaps, the worst in recent years.

    Infrastructure

    Nigerians have been grappling with several years of infrastructure decay. The transformation agenda was supposed to address this in a holistic way. This sector includes transportation, housing, Information Communication Technology (ICT),Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) and Niger Delta.

    These are very critical sectors to national development. The Niger Delta, for instance, has suffered such neglect for many decades that it resulted in militancy against the economic interests of the country. It took the declaration of amnesty for such militants to restore peace in the areas. But as we speak, the issue of infrastructural decay that has plagued the region for so long is yet to be substantially addressed. The West-East Road has become a subject of controversy.

    Transportation

     This is one area in which the government has earned some kudos and knocks.The government has made some investment in railway, roads and inland waterways airports and sea ports. In roads rehabilitation, more is still expected from the government even though it has tried much, particularly, the once notorious Benin – Sagamu expressway. The achievement of the government in the rehabilitation of airports across the country is all well too known. Nonetheless, more still has to be done.

     Low score

    Nigerians, however, have scored the government low on the transformation agenda.

    A chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former Minister of Police Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Lame, told The Nation in a telephone interview last week that Nigeria currently lacks three basic things that are fundamental for transformation to take place.

    “If you are asking me what I have been able to make of the Transformation Agenda of this administration, sincerely speaking, I will tell you that I don’t know what the transformation programme is all about. But one thing, which I know, is that there are three basic things that are very fundamental for any transformation to take place anywhere in the world.

    “Unfortunately, these three things are lacking in our own case. That is, if it is granted that what we are talking about is socio-economic transformation that will make life more abundant for the people. Without them, there can be no transformation. The first is the security of lives and property. But today, we have never witness a period where we have a serious problems of security of lives and property like we are now. Second is what I call the viability of economic infrastructure. In my opinion, our economic infrastructure is not working. Take the transport sector, take the energy sector or even the social sector. Have you been to any of our schools lately? Try and go there and see things for yourself.

    “What about our hospitals? Just go to our hospitals and see for yourself and come and tell me their performance.

    He also criticised the current state of energy supply in the country today as appalling, saying the most critical area where the transformation should have been felt is the energy sector. “It is a very, very serious issue. No society can develop without power or energy and we have always been hearing we would give you this today, we will give you that tomorrow. So we don’t know what is being transformed.”

    Evading reality

     A lawyer, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), said the self adulation by the administration was expected. He said the judgment of the government cannot be the same as that of the people.

    “The self appraisal of the administration is expected, but the people know where the shoe pinches. Lagos and Abuja are the most expensive cities to live in the world. A colleague of mine went to Port Harcourt for a week and when he returned, he said the cost of living is outrageous. How much is flight from Lagos to Abuja in 2011? And how much is it today?

    “I don’t blame Mr President because he flies at the expense of taxpayers, he feeds and clothes at the expense of taxpayers. If he can come down to where people are living, he will know what the ordinary people are going through. What is the value of $50 billion foreign reserves when Nigerians are dying of hunger? When all local industries have closed shop? When millions of Nigerian graduates are jobless. Mr President and the Finance Minister should stop deceiving Nigerians with false statistics”.

    “In terms of security, this administration has not fared better and socially, it has not done well. It is actually fuelling instability in the country. The administration masterminded the inability of Timipreye Sylva to return as the governor of Bayelsa State for a second term. And a dangerous scenario is playing out in Rivers State,” Akintola said.

    Deformation agenda?

    Also, President of Civil Rights of Nigeria (CRN) Mallam Shehu Sani described what is going on as a deformation rather than a transformation agenda. He accused the government of presenting misleading statistics, saying those who presented them are cut off from the reality on ground in the country.

    “President Jonathan’s transformation agenda is more of a deformation agenda. The President seems to be cut off from the realities of Nigeria today. There are three indices by which government can be assessed, namely political, social and economic.

    “From the political angle, this administration has overheated the polity more than any other administration in the history of Nigeria. His government has progressively dissolved the mutual ties among the divergent religious and ethnic groups in Nigeria. His government has proven to be more interested in empowering ex-militants and political cronies than addressing the basic issues of under development.

    “Economically, Nigerians are worse off. Despite the huge oil earning, it has not reflected in the quality of live of Nigerians.

    “Socially, the level of poverty in the country is alarming and is threatening the peace and stability of the nation. He has impoverished Nigerians and has created a class of beggars.”

    False claims

     Former President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) Olasupo Ojo echoed what Lame said. He said the agenda is simply surreal.

    “As far as I am concerned, you have to know where you are coming from to be able to decide where you are going to. This administration has not transformed anything and to the best of my knowledge there is no transformation agenda.

    “Government is living on false claims; they are not telling the people the truth. They are only pretending that there is a project they are executing which is not real. If anything, it is a strategy at siphoning public funds.

    The only thing the administration is concerned about is to be in power. They do not care whether the people are hungry or not. Between you and me, you know that there is so much hunger in the land, between you and me, you know that graduate unemployment has never been this high, between you and me, you know that crime rate has never been this high. There are all kinds of criminal acts going on, some we never heard before. I think all they are interested in is just to remain in power. That is why you hear things like ‘I don’t care’. To me, there is no transformation agenda anywhere”, he said.

    Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo said the administration should focus on the two major challenges facing the country. He identified them as security and power.

    “I would want to advise the government to focus on two very challenging areas. These are security and power. The government has not been able to transform these sectors that it promised to address”, he said.

    The critical question, however, is whether the Transformation Agenda is on course. If it is, where will Nigeria be in 2015? If not, what should President Jonathan do to steer it back on course? Nigerians certainly want answers to these questions sooner than later.

  • 2015: Fresh fears in Jonathan’s camp over govs

    2015: Fresh fears in Jonathan’s camp over govs

    • Amaechi’s men in search for alternative party

    Some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have reiterated their calls for the convening of National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party barely a week after Governor Rotimi Amaechi defied opposition from the presidency to get re-elected as the Nigeria Governor’s forum (NGF) chairman. Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, reports the effect of the development on President Goodluck Jonathan’s camp.

     

     

    The ongoing insistence by some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the immediate convening of a meeting of the National Executive Committee of the party and last week’s re-election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF) in spite of glaring opposition to his choice by the presidency has sparked fresh fears among the various pro-Goodluck Jonathan groups across the country over the 2015 presidential election.

    While the presidency says it is not bothered by the developments, inside sources say the governors’ call for a NEC meeting barely a week after the victory of the Rivers State helmsman, who has been at logger-head with the President in recent months, is making the President’s men uncomfortable.

    The Nation also gathered that most of the support groups, stakeholders and other politicians rooting for President Jonathan ahead of the 2015 presidential election were highly disturbed by the re-election of Amaechi as NGF chairman for another two-year term.

    “Following the announcement of Amaechi’s suspension from the party by the National Working Committee (NWC) some governors have reiterated the need to convene a NEC meeting immediately.

    “The fear in Jonathan’s camp is that the governors plan to use the NEC meeting to upturn the NWC’s decision on Amaechi and take some other far-reaching decisions that will not be in the interest of the President.

    “And given the numerical strength of the governors and their supporters within the NEC, it will not be difficult for them to achieve this. What happened at the Governors’ Forum election has showned that majority of the governors are not to be relied upon totally,” a source said.

    A governor from the northern part of the country, who spoke in confidence to some journalists during the week, said it would be wrong for the leadership of the party to claim ignorance of the law as stipulated in the PDP constitution concerning the party’s NEC.

    According to the governor, Amaechi’s problem with the party started after he presided over the PDP governors’ meetings, where the state chief executives demanded the convening of the NEC meeting.

    “All of us PDP governors, including those mobilising against Amaechi now, ON January 9 this year, at that meeting held at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge at Asokoro, Abuja called for the immediate convening of a NEC meeting in our party.

    “The constitution of the party says NEC meeting must be held at least every quarter. The last meeting held more than ten months ago. We must stop this breach of the party’s constitution,” he said.

    The renewed determination of the governors to force the hands of the party’s leadership to convene a NEC meeting immediately and the seriousness with which they are going about achieving their aim is said to be making the President’s handlers jittery.

    Also, a presidency source, who said aides of the President monitored the NGF election closely, told our correspondent on condition of anonymity, that the President who was away in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend the 21st ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), was greatly upset by the news of Amaechi’s victory.

    According to him, “the President, like every other stakeholder in the matter, never hid his interest in the outcome of the NGF election. In line with this, specific instructions and assignments were given to certain people to ensure that things went according to plan.

    “For us here, we monitored the election and the processes leading to it closely. We were optimistic that things were in order until after the voting proper. The President, though out of the country, is aware of the development and he is not pleased with it.”

    He further explained that aides of the President are miffed by the inability of some people saddled with certain responsibility to deliver on their briefs. “Some people who were expected to get some governors to toe the expected line failed. This is why we are in this situation,” he added.

    A senior party official of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who spoke to The Nation also confirmed the disquiet within the President’s camp saying the re-election of Amaechi by the NGF is perceived as a bad signal by handlers of the President ahead of the 2015 general election.

    The former federal lawmaker said the party is also worried that the development will further polarise the PDP, especially in Rivers State where two factions of the ruling party are already battling it out.

    “The development, though strictly an NGF affair, is creating tension within the PDP. For example, supporters of the President see it as a bad omen ahead of the 2015 elections. They see PDP governors unable to speak with one voice and they are worried this will affect the fortune of the party at the next election.

    We at the secretariat have also given it a thought. Though we are not bothered about the victory of Governor Amaechi or the defeat of Governor Jang, we are not pleased that our governors are still divided, in spite of the many efforts to unite them,” he said.

    Asked why he thinks the PDP governors failed to agree on the same candidate at the NGF election, the party chieftain said it was as a result of the failure of some people to make them resolve certain differences before the election.

    “I am aware that the leadership of the party assigned some people to see to this matter. The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party was already on the matter before the election. It is also true that the Vice President and some other leaders were to meet with northern governors on this issue. The PDP Governors’ Forum also had some work to do. I’m aware of all these.

    “If all these people and organs got their assignment done correctly, maybe we will not be talking about PDP governors going into the NGF election divided. The victory or defeat of one candidate or the other is not our concern. Our worry is that we failed to resolve the differences amongst our governors,” he added.

    Leader of the Goodluck Support Group (GSG) in Ogun State and national publicity secretary of the group, Chief Layi Soluade, while reacting to the development yesterday, said the re-election of Amaechi by the NGF which has PDP governors in clear majority is worrisome.

    The PDP chieftain wondered why the party was unable to rein in the governors to support the President’s choice. He, however expresse happiness that the incident has helped supporters of the President to know the magnitude of work ahead of them.

    “It is sad. It is worrisome that PDP governors who are in a clear majority could not ensure the election of the party’s choice as chairman of the NGF. It is a bad omen as we approach 2015. Except we want to deceive ourselves, we all know Amaechi is not the party’s choice.

    “But be that as it may, though we are worried, it is also good that this is happening now. It has revealed the magnitude of work we have ahead of us if we must deliver on the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan,” Soluade said.

    Another pro-Jonathan Group, Friends of Democracy for Goodluck (FDG), said the re-election of Amaechi by the NGF should gear up all supporters of the President rather than weigh them down.

    Spokesperson of the group, Emma Okoduwa, said the development is a confirmation of the existence of some fifth columnists within the PDP. He, however, expressed optimism that nothing will stop the re-election of President Jonathan in 2015.

    “We are worried that the PDP governors could not deliver on their promises to party leaders. We are bothered that we cannot trust our party men to protect party interest. The re-election of Amaechi is a pointer to the serious division within PDP.

    “But we are sure of securing victory for President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. All these anti-party activities by some PDP leaders cannot stop him,” he said.

    Meanwhile, findings by The Nation revealed that prior to last Friday’s re-election of their principal as NGF, chairman, allies and political associates of Governor Amaechi were frantically searching for an alternative platform to the PDP.

    Sources within the governor’s camp revealed that Amaechi’s associates, who have been mounting pressure on him in recent weeks to pull out of the PDP, were only waiting for the outcome of the NGF election before presenting reports of their searches for an alternative party.

    “Associates of the governor made up their minds weeks back that the PDP can no longer contain both the President and Governor Amaechi and they told him so on many occasion.

    “Several efforts to make him see reasons why he should avoid the mistake made by former Governor Timipre Silva of Bayelsa State failed to convince Amaechi to yield to their request.

    “Finally, following the grounding of his aircraft and the removal of his men as party executives, Amaechi’s men formed a committee saddled with the responsibility of sourcing another political platform for the governor’s political family to move to.

    “The committee has its reports ready but leaders of Amaechi’s camp decided to wait till after the NGF election before raising the issue with the governor again. Somehow, they didn’t think he would win,” our source said.

    Asked what h e thinks would happen now that the Rivers State Governor has won re-election to lead the NGF for another two years, our source said he cannot really say for now.

    “I cannot say what will happen. In fact let me say I don’t know. But what I know is that the governor’s associates are not willing to be caught napping,” he said.

  • Jonathan’s achievements powered by women, says First Lady

    Jonathan’s achievements powered by women, says First Lady

    The First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, yesterday claimed that the achievements recorded in the past two years of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration came to past due mainly to the efforts of women in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    She made the remark while speaking at a dinner in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day organized for women at the Banquet Hall, Abuja.

    According to her, the present set of female public office holders have done the womenfolks proud with their outstanding performances.

    She said: “Two days ago, the President read his mid-term report to Nigerians. He and his team have done very well. Women are the powerful people in that cabinet,”

    The First Lady specifically noted the efforts of Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to reposition Nigeria’s economy and the ongoing facelifting being carried out at the airports by the Minister of Aviation, Mrs. Stella Odua.

    She said the success or failure of the administration lies squarely on the shoulders of the womenfolks as they are well represented in the government.

    Thanking her husband for giving the women the opportunity to prove themselves, she said: “We thank God for Mr. President for giving women a chance. Since independence, this is the first time women can walk tall and talk where men are talking.

    “So we thank this administration. We will continue to support this administration and make it succeed,” she added.

    She also charged women to take special interest in finding a lasting solution to the security challenges facing Nigeria since women and children are always the greatest target.

    The First Lady said: “On the issue of security, women are more involved. Soldiers are our children; Boko Haram members are our children; militants are our children. It is high time we talked to our children at home to shun evil behaviour and make sure we desist from anything that can bring the country down. We should be proud of our country.

    “We should preach peace and be peaceful in our homes, local governments, states and the country. Our watchword should be peace. We should move from door to door to preach peace.

    “Without peace, there will be no development and we need development. Women are saying enough is enough. We don’t want our children to die again,” she stated.

    The dinner was attended by former First Lady, Hajia Ajoke Murtala Muhammed; wife of the governor of Anambra State, Mrs. Margret Obi; Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Mrs. Mulikat Adeola-Akande; and wife of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mrs. Fatima Tukur.

    Also at the dinner were the PDP’s National Women Leader, Mrs. Kema Chikwe; business tycoon, Hajia Bola Shagaya; and Mrs. Stella Okoli.

    Many female members of the FEC, female presidential aides, female lawmakers, wives of service chiefs and representatives of different women groups also graced the occasion.

  • We’ve raised bar against corruption – Jonathan

    We’ve raised bar against corruption – Jonathan

    In comparison with past administrations, President Goodluck Jonathan has claimed that his administration has raised the bar against corruption in Nigeria.

    In his Mid-Term report presented to the public on Wednesday, the president said his administration now pursues a more strategic, comprehensive and effective campaign against corruption.

    According to him, his administration has gone beyond popular sentiments to address the root causes of corruption and enhance the capacity of the institutions to resist and overcome corrupt influences.

    The report reads: “President Jonathan’s approach in fighting corruption is to focus on building strong institutions that have the capacity to overcome corrupt influences and not just to sermonize about corruption.”

    “This approach uses the rule of law as a framework to fight corruption since corruption is a feature of weak rule of law and weak institutions,” it stated.

    The widespread international perception of Nigeria as a corrupt country, the report said, has caused incalculable damage to the dignity and honour of many honest and diligent Nigerians and to the country’s global competitiveness.

    Some of the achievements of the administration against corruption, the report said included: Signing the Freedom of Information Act into law, the uncovering of fraud and deletion of over 73,000 ghost/fake pensioners from the Head of Service/ Police Pension Office.

    Others included recovery and savings of over N225 billion from the two pension offices, halting the monthly theft of over N4 billion from the national treasury, reducing fraud by saving over N500 million monthly through the police pension releases.

    “Another giant stride is the suspension of Justice Abubakar Talba of the FCT High Court, Gudu. The 12 month suspension follows the controversial judgment he delivered in respect of John Yusufu, who was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over an alleged N32.8 billion Police Pension Fraud,” it added.

    The recent dismissal of three judges found to have compromised their offices, the report said, is a signal of zero tolerance for corruption in the judiciary.

     

     

     

  • Why we stopped Jonathan from spending Borno, Yobe Adamawa cash, by House

    Why we stopped Jonathan from spending Borno, Yobe Adamawa cash, by House

    The decision by the House of Representatives to stop the President from spending the cash belonging to the states under emergency is derived from the Constitution, the lawmakers said yesterday.

    The lawmakers who changed their position after initially agreeing with the Senate that Dr. Goodluck Jonathan should spend the cash belonging to the states to fund the military operations, pleaded for undersigning of their change of mind.

    Spokesman of the House, Zakari Mohammed told reporters yesterday that: “The House derived its power from the Emergency Power Act 1 Sub 1 of 1961. That gives Mr President powers to proclaim to the House or the National Assembly states or parts of Nigeria where issues of unrest are prevalent.

    “That same provision allows us to amend, alter or revoke some parts of those powers given to Mr President. In other words, we can decide to say that the powers given to him, even though it is coming from the National Assembly as a chamber, we can recall some things”.

    He however appealed that the situation should not create any form of apprehension on how the two chambers of the National Assembly would resolve the new development.

    According to him, reversing their earlier position should not be viewed as impossible as long as it was done in the best interest of democracy.

    “There is nobody who is above mistake. The conference committee members are human beings. You will recall that every issue that has judicial implication clearly, especially the case of the Attorney General of the Federation vs Lagos State Government, the ruling of the Supreme Court there was very clear; that the president of the country does not have any right to expend, suspend or with-hold the monies of a state or local government.

    “So, on the basis of that, if in the House we decided that the governors should be given administrative powers to keep carrying on their day-to-day running of government,we are in order.

    “To that extent, the steps taken by the House are not out of place.

    “We are going to reach out to our Senate counterparts and by the time we reach out to them, the matter will be different from what it is now.”

    Zakari also assured Nigerians that the House would debate the Supplementary Budget sent to the National Assembly by the President at the appropriate time.

    According to him, too much urgency was not attached to it because the 2013 Appropriation Act is still running.

    “The only thing we’re talking about is amendment. Even the second quarter allocation has been released. If the budget is not being implemented, I don’t think that will happen. I don’t think we should bother too much about the budget.

    “At the appropriate time, we will come out with whatever is the position of the House on the budget. But I assure you we will not do anything to put ourselves in a great disadvantage,” he added.

  • What Jonathan must do—NOW

    What Jonathan must do—NOW

    The nation is in crisis and it is not the security crisis that is obvious to all. It is the moral crisis of leadership. It has been simmering for as long as we have the republic but it has now reached its zenith of absurdity with the widely publicized demonstration of pettiness by a section of our political leaders. As the moral compass of the nation continues to drift without direction, it is incumbent on the president, as the de jure conscience of the nation, to rise above the fray, speak truth to power and start writing his personal epitaph in gold.

    In offering this plea, I make a number of assumptions. First, I assume that the President is not in any shape or form behind the crisis in his party and in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Following from this first assumption, I assume that there are individuals in the leadership of the party hierarchy who pledge loyalty to the president and would do anything, including the grossly immoral, to seek his favour but who are actually hurting him, and these are the forces behind the various crises. Finally, however, I assume that even if he has a hand in the crisis directly or indirectly, as a conscientious person eyeing a legacy that is scandal-free, the President is able to free himself of any such entanglements and call his associates to order.

    Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan entered the national scene as a humble man with a background that many of us shared and so we were able to relate to him as one of us. The story of a boy who walked to school without shoes is so familiar to the majority of Nigerians that it was difficult not to identify with the one who epitomised it with such dignity. Across the land, he was embraced as the symbol of our dreams. He would transform our political landscape and inspire us to rally round the highest ideals. He would make us whole again. It was a refreshing thought, the exciting hope of a new era of civility and robust development.

    When roadblocks were put in the way of then Vice President Jonathan to serve as Acting President in the absence of the president, the whole nation (not the Ijaw nation or the Southsouth) demanded that the National Assembly do the right thing. The Save Nigeria Group (SNG) led that effort of national redemption. The effort succeeded and subsequent to the sad demise of President Yar’Adua, Jonathan was sworn in as President and Commander-in-Chief.

    In his campaign for his full term as substantive president, Jonathan tapped into the aspirations of the young and old from North to South and received the support of the majority. There were the usual electoral anomalies, but the tribunals and the highest court decided in his favour. Under the circumstance, he had the mandate to lead.

    With an emphasis on transformational leadership and transformational agenda, the new president rallied the nation to a cause that was supposedly larger than himself or any individual. We all imagined the birthing of a new nation—a national rebirth—in which the old divisions of ethnicity, religion, and sectarianism are superseded. In short, our new president was going to lead us to take our country back.

    Let us concede that some progress has been made in some areas, especially in the matter of economic development where the indices have been favourable. The President and his team cannot deny that there is still much work to do in the matter of infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and utilities like power generation and distribution and water resources development. Security is, of course, a top priority.

    The sordid dimension of the Jonathan presidency, which threatens the legacy of this self-defined transformationist, is the festering sore of a self-inflicted wound, the noxious odour of which is suffocating the polity. It is ironic but, given its make-up and member motivation, it is not a surprise that the president’s party and a segment of his kinsmen, have presented themselves as the willing tool to derail his agenda and mar his legacy.

    According to the Yoruba, alatise nii matise ara re—one is the architect of one’s fortune. But in the matter of providing strong leadership even within his own party, the President’s performance has been less than inspiring. Here then is an occasion for Dr. Jonathan to show his mettle and demonstrate his strength of character.

    The NGF video is damning in many respects. It is an embarrassment to the governors as leaders of their states and character witnesses of Nigerians. Imagine this. A Nigerian is accused in the court of public morality in another land and he has to present a person of dignity to vouch for him. Is it too much to present a state governor? But the accusers are familiar with Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola’s quick thinking and have watched the video. How can any of those caught in such a kindergarten-like behaviour effectively defend the moral uprightness of an accused?

    Second, apart from its damning verdict in the matter of decorum, the video also demonstrated to the whole world the deficit of democratic norms in the polity. They were the first citizens of their states; individuals that the young would normally look up to for guidance but who have succeeded in undermining the very notion of democracy and confusing the youth. Surf the Internet and browse the various comments on the NGF stories and you will feel sorry for the country and its future. The concept of political morality has become an oxymoron with the action of a few whose purpose in politics is to acquire power to service the self. If you thought that there would be unanimity of moral outrage over the infantile behavior of a large number of state governors, you would be dead wrong. A significant number of our fellow citizens saw nothing to condemn. That is how depraved the political landscape has become.

    Third, and still on substance, some of the explanations the governors gave for their position are so illogical and mind-boggling that we are all implicated in the shameless drama. At an earlier meeting, a majority of PDP members had resolved to back one candidate, they informed us. Therefore, they argued, that candidate ought to win the election conducted at a later time and in a different forum! This is an argument from our governors? An earlier resolution must trump an election conducted later and one in which everyone participated without force or duress, and the ballots counted in broad daylight?

    If President Jonathan still has the moral fire in his belly; if he still yearns for a lasting legacy, this is the time for him to come off the shell of indecisive leadership and rein in impunity in high places, including his kitchen cabinet. He must redeem himself and the nation.

    Even if all my assumptions were wrong, and he was deeply involved in the unwholesome conspiracy against decency, President Jonathan can still do himself a great favour by mounting the podium of integrity and telling the whole nation that his associates were off the mark. He must congratulate Governor Amaechi and support the coming back together of the NGF. This doesn’t mean that he would be friends with the governor of Rivers State. It only means that he is a leader who understands the meaning of servant leadership. And in case he’s so determined to get even with Amaechi, there’s always going to be another opportunity. But truth be told, this one stinks terribly. Assume that he wants the second term so badly that his associates are willing to do anything for him to get it, Jonathan must excuse himself from the road to moral oblivion—NOW.

  • Jonathan’s war against democracy

    Jonathan’s war against democracy

    The portentous cloud of absolutism hanging over the country should arouse serious concerns of men of valour. Such men are expected to stand up and challenge the budding cabal of exploitation that is sprouting in Abuja before they gain enough stability that could send most of us back to the trenches. The activists must wake up from their sleep: All writers of conscience must gather more ink and get their thoughts ready for the battle with one sole aim: To rescue democracy from the fistic grip of men that failed to learn from history. We all need to talk, agitate and possibly kick, if only to let the slaves of power realise that today is not forever.

    Edmund Burke, that Anglo-Irish statesman and philosopher that served for many years in the British House of Commons as a member of the Whig party once rebelled against King George III and Great Britain during their taxation-induced disputes with the American colonies. The face-off eventually culminated in the American Revolution that brought an end to British colonial rule over the United States’ territory. The English thinker and parliamentarian of repute remarkably observed in that turbulent period that ‘All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.’ This noteworthy statement was made to rouse patriotic activism against the despotism of that epoch. Nigeria needs such arousal from true mentors of conscience in our midst.

    Nigeria under President Goodluck Jonathan is currently building up a culture of tyranny that has made dissenting voices its prime target. Most reasonable Nigerians are bothered not because the nation has not passed through this path before but because history is replete with examples of leaders that clamp down on Nigerians long after they begin to enjoy too much power and freedom only to fall later into ignominy. Will Jonathan learn from recent history of despots like Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Sani Abacha, that all left power in disgrace?

    The Nigerian Governors’ Forum’s (NGF’s) election that held recently bears eloquent testimony to Jonathan’s feeble historical memory about how not to use power. The NGF in that election got its incumbent chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state re-elected. Thirty-five votes from equal number of governors present were cast. One governor abstained. Governor Amaechi in the transparently conducted election where the ballots were counted openly scored 19 votes to Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, his main challenger’s 16.

    Since the election result was announced, the centre could no longer hold as it became apparent that the presidency felt slighted by the outcome of the election. Foot soldiers of President Jonathan including Governors Godswill Akpabio, Seriake Dickson and Segun Mimiko of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Ondo states respectively have been inexorably challenging the result that was against Jonah Jang, their mentor’s obvious preferred choice. The president can say to the marines that he had no preferred candidate in the NGF election contest – certainly not to discernible Nigerians!

    But one thing is clear to keenly observant public, there is no love lost between the president and the Rivers state governor. Amaechi has so far stood up to the Abuja power drunken inclination. Rivers State’s reported two million votes is strategic to Jonathan’s 2015 re-election ambition in the South-South and he has shown through his open secret fight with Amaechi that he cannot stand an enemy of his ambition to be in charge in that state. But Amaechi is a student of activism. The pursuit of crusades has taken him thus far in life. He battled and crushed all enemies on his path of becoming the governor of that state. So, he is back in his familiar terrain of justified confrontation. To further complicate the president’s woes in Rivers is Amaechi’s reported wonderful performance in the delivery of democratic dividend to the people.

    The PDP has suspended Amaechi from its fold for celebrating his NGF election victory considered by hawks in the party to be an embarrassment to President Jonathan. The body language of the president has goaded the plot to cause further incensed political rumpus in that state. The PDP has never been a party with any sense of etiquette and whatever act of dishonour coming from it should not be a disappointment to anybody. What should bother us more is the fact that the party is trying to introduce its do-or-die politics into the affairs of an NGF with governor-membership that cut across different major political parties in the country.

    Equally more frightening is the fact that a body of governors that are individually acknowledged to be leaders of their various states could be so vulnerable to anti-democratic inclination. How else can one describe the effrontery of Jang in proclaiming himself a winner in an election that he openly lost? Why should he set up a parallel NGF secretariat when a de jure chairman is in place? Is this not an invitation to anarchy? Could it then be concluded that entrusting our present and future in the hands of democratically dishonourable men like Jang and cohorts is injurious to the political stability of this nation? With what has happened during the last NGF election, should Nigerians expect to see anything different in the coming 2015 elections to be anchored by these mostly democratically challenged governors?

    Where is President Jonathan leading the country to? The country is not getting it right under the current dispensation and it would not be wrong to say that this democracy because of the president’s ambition in 2015 is not steeped in realistic footing. Under Jonathan, like we had under previous PDP leadership, we have two democracies: One for the rich and the other for the poor. The PDP government since the advent of this democracy teaches the people by its feral democratic example not to believe in the Nigerian system. And the danger in this is that if the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law and it is indirectly inviting every man to become a law unto himself. And anarchy is the end result.

    With the way things are going, anarchy is looming ahead due to the daily injustices suffered by the people not only in Port-Harcourt but across the country. Nigeria needs a new political orientation and; an army of sincere and unrelenting advocates for the poor. This is because except there is a new state of mind, the country lies on the rim of precipice because tyranny and anarchy are twin brothers. Let us all say a word or do something symbolic to show our utmost disdain for the way of political perdition that Jonathan and his team of jesters are leading this country. This is very important so as to nip in the bud early, the injurious war against democracy by our president. Speaking out and acting at the right time has positively helped in other nations where people like Edmund Burke once lived.

  • Federal Govt gives self pass mark

    Federal Govt gives self pass mark

    PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan described yesterday the mid-term performance of his administration as creditable.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Minister of National Planning Shamsudeen Usman gave the government a pass mark.

    President Jonathan launched a document on the performance of the government in the last two years at a ceremony organised to mark Democracy Day at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

    Opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Lagos lawyer, Bamidele Aturu, said the government has not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians.

    At the ceremony were former Heads of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Second Republic President Alhaji Shehu Shagari and former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former military President Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar did not attend.

    Two foreign dignitaries – former Liberian President Amos Sawyer and former United States presidential aspirant Rev. Jesse Jackson attended.

    Dr. Jonathan said his administration had done well but he faulted the recent assessment of his ministers by a national newspaper, wondering what kind of criteria was used for the assessment.

    “I noticed that some ministers – National Planning, Trade and Investment – were scored average. From 2007, I have worked with two ministers of National Planning and two ministers of Trade and Investment; they have never done what has been done today.” He praised the minister in charge of the ministries.

    “Today, we are marking the end of the first 24 months, which is our mid-term review and my duty is to formally present a document that all Nigerians will be able to read and assess us.

    “So, I am not meant to talk and, of course, you have heard from the Planning minister, the Finance minister and the Secretary to the Government, that will give you the idea of what we have done.

    “The idea is to formally present a document to all Nigerians about the activities of government in the past two years. I plead with all of us, especially those who want to assess and write about it, to develop criteria because without a marking scheme, you cannot mark any student’s paper. Two years of a government, this is what we have done, develop your marking scheme and score us.”

    Presenting a report on the Economic Policy Framework (2011 -2013), Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said remarkable progress had been made in the economy.

    She said Nigeria’s economy was strong and growing, adding that foreign reserve is $50 billion, up from $32.08 billion in May 2011.

    Due to the level of foreign reserve, she said, foreign exchange has remained stable in the past two years.

    According to Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is one of the fastest growing in the world. The GDP growth in 2013 is expected to be at 6.5% (NBS) or 7.2% (IMF).

    Inflation rate, she said, has slowed down to 9.1% from 12.4% in May 2011.

    She said: “Our economy has been growing. Inflation has been coming down. Our focus is to complete ongoing projects. The government is concerned about keeping our debts low. We have started retiring existing debts. We want to keep our debts at very manageable level.”

    Noting that Nigeria’s export is shifting from oil to non-oil products, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said oil export is 70 per cent while non-oil export is 30 per cent.

    The Excess Crude Account (ECA), component of external reserve, she said, rose from $4 billion in May 2011 to $9 billion in 2012 and $6 billion in May 2013.

    ECA is now helping the economy as oil production has fallen from the projected 2.53 million barrels per day to between 2.1 and 2.2 million barrel per day, the minister said.

    According to her, the cost of government is reducing – thanks to a policy to reduce recurrent expenditure and complete unfinished capital projects.

    Recurrent expenditure dropped from 74.4% of total budget in 2011 to 68.7% in 2013.

    Annual borrowing has reduced from N852 billion in 2011 to N588 billion in 2013.

    The Minister also claimed that aggressive monitoring of contract threshold, encouraging whistle blowing, introduction of stiffer penalties and take-off of e-procurement led to savings of N420 billion at the end of 2012.

    On the expenditure side, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) have resulted in N118.9 billion savings on the payroll cost, and that 58% of the budget is now being executed through Introduction of the Government Integrated Financial Management and Information System (GIFMIS).

    Through the Treasury Single Account (TSA), she said, the government’s overdrawn position has dropped from N102 billion in 2011 to N19 billion in 2012.

    To prevent corruption in the various pension schemes, she said: “All the pension schemes are now coming under one roof to check abuses.”

    From the Subsidy Re-Investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), she said in 2012, the Federal Government got N180 billion, states – N154 billion and local governments – N76 billion for various projects.

    While stating that Nigeria has become the highest destination for investment, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala noted that 22 airports were being refurbished simultaneously.

    On power and water, she said: “There have been tangible improvements in our power sector. The privatisation that is going on now, will at the end boost the power sector. Seven water projects have been completed across the country.”

    Giving an overview of the Transformation Agenda of the government, the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, said: “Mr. President is actually setting a record in Nigeria. He is raising the bar.”

    According to him, about eight of the 14 key objectives set by the administration in 2011 have been achieved by the government.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim said the government should not only be assessed by the physical infrasructure in place now but that there are many intangible achievements that have been recorded in the past two years.

    Stressing that there have been stability and no interference with the legislature, he pointed out that INEC had been receiving great funds towards procuring permanent electoral materials, like permanent voters’ cards, among other things.

    “We have recorded some progress, but a lot is yet to be achieved,” he said.

    The Founder/President of Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Right Rev. Jackson, warned that winning elections is not what matters, but the transformation carried out by the government.

    He noted that Nigeria is the biggest democracy in Africa.

    He said as the most populous black nation on earth, the entire black race expects much from Nigeria.

    The chairman of the African Peer Review Mechanism and former President of the Interim Government of National Unity of Liberia, Prof. Amos Sawyer said that Nigeria is demonstrating the best practice of APRM.

    Other dignitaries at the occasion included: First Lady Dame Patience, Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar.

    There governors, Service chiefs, traditional rulers and students.

    ANPP National Financial Secretary, Alhaja Fatima Muhammed said on the telephone last night that the PDP should be prepared to leave office after the 2015 elections when the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over.

    “Why will Jonathan say that he has performed with the security challenge in the country. We want change and that we will get in 2015. Jonathan should get ready to hand over power to the APC. No matter his plans to remain in power beyond 2015, Nigerians are tired of his regime. He is deceiving himself.

    “Nigerians are aware of all the happenings in the country and only an APC government will solve the problems. I do not know what is giving Jonathan the confidence that he has performed in the last two years. His party members should advise him on what to do.

    “Things have got worse compared to when Jonathan got into power. I am not saying that he should be impeached, all I know is that by 2015, the country will be singing another song of victory. The PDP government has ruled for 14 years without improvement in lives of the people. Nigerians are not enjoying the dividends of democracy.”

    Responding to the mid-term report last night, Lagos lawyer, Bamidele Aturu said:

    “People must understand that democracy is for us to stand up and demand what is right. This mid-term report that Jonathan is giving is his own idea of setting the exam and giving himself marks.

    “It is only a very funny student that would set exams for himself and give himself marks. To even give a mid-term report today is a sign of un seriousness from the Federal Government, you don’t mark yourself, let the people asses you. When you begin to asses yourself, then there is a fundamental problem.

    “I am not saying this for Jonathan alone; I say it for all the leaders, even down to the local governments. Our leaders have failed us.

    “My take on this is this: If you say you have achieved and Nigerians are not seeing your achievements who are you achieving for? This is a made up achievement, there is no doubt there are no achievements here. If he says he will shock us with his achievements we cannot be shocked again. What I want to say is this; our leaders have failed us, not just the President but leadership at all level. There is no development.”

  • Amaechi, Aliyu, loyalty pledge and Jonathan

    Amaechi, Aliyu, loyalty pledge and Jonathan

    Moments after he was re-elected as chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) last Friday, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State gave a short and, for someone who cuts a fairly radical or activist image, unusual statement about democracy and President Goodluck Jonathan. The election was victory for democracy and proved the resolve of the governors to affirm the unity of the Forum, he said with a strong hint of exaggeration. But as for Dr. Jonathan, the governor felt a desperate urge to pacify him, thereby giving the impression he not only contested against the Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, but also against the president. It is not clear that everyone will agree the governor needed to pacify the president, but he did so nonetheless with extraordinary self-effacement. As he put it delicately, “We remain committed to supporting our leader, the president and commander in chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to realise the development dream of all Nigerians by reducing tension, uncertainty and insecurity in our beloved country. We want to pledge our steadfastness and resolve working alongside Mr. President to better the lives of our people as we render transparent and accountable stewardship.”

    But Mr. Amaechi is not the only one pledging loyalty to the president, even though it is all but obvious the pledge was cynical and perfunctory. Governor of Niger State, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, also felt compelled to offer the same peace offering when the president visited Niger State for the groundbreaking ceremony of the Zungeru Hydro-electric Power Project. Responding to widespread report he was warring against the president, Dr. Aliyu remarked effusively: “Those thinking that there is war between the Niger State government and governor and the president should swallow their spit. We are one; we recognise that the people of Nigeria elected him and we respect that. If we do not respect and follow you (Mr. President), God will ask us. So we are saying, Mr. President that we are for you…We are with you and I hereby pledge my government and people’s loyalty and support to you.” But shouldn’t everyone pledge his loyalty to the constitution?

    It is unlikely Dr. Jonathan would believe the two governors. By lashing out furiously against Mr. Amaechi through the Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) immediately after the NGF poll, the president gave indication he was impervious to the governor’s blandishments. And while he may also not be able to lash out against the Niger State governor as he would like, he will at least take the governor’s protestations with a pinch of salt. On their own, it is unlikely the two governors think the president would be misled by their red herrings. Why, then, don’t we cut to the chase by showing one another our true colours and forswearing the cultural nuance of groveling before power? It is true that by the Nigerian constitution the president has nearly limitless power to do and undo, yet both the spirit and the letter of the constitution do not grant the president such powers as many imagine. But by groveling before the president/head of state and deferring to him sycophantically, as has been done by the political elite over the decades, the president can be forgiven for imagining he transcends the constitution and has the power of life and death over every citizen. After all, the police, secret service and the army believe everyone is a subject to be treated shabbily, not a citizen whose rights are non-derogable.

    Let Mr. Amaechi enjoy his NGF victory unabashedly, notwithstanding the compulsive bellyaching of his traducers and the aggressive intrigues of Dr Jonathan and the PDP. And beyond the routine exhibition of official courtesies, let Dr Aliyu also put his foot down whenever the need arises, for in truth, there is really no pleasing this president, at least not with the scheming gerontocrats around him disturbing the peace of the country. Blessed will be the day when the president climbs down from his high horse, and the people climb up from their genuflecting and groveling sewers, and we all meet at the table of reason and moderation where everyone knows his limits within the sacred confines of the constitution.

     

  • Assess FG’s performance on individual scorecards – Jonathan

    Assess FG’s performance on individual scorecards – Jonathan

    President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday in Abuja, implored Nigerians to assess his administration based on individual scorecards.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Jonathan said this while presenting the mid-term report of his four-year Transformation Agenda.

    He advised his critics to assess the report he presented based on their individual scorecards.

    The president said that all the achievements had been enumerated by the ministers in his cabinet.

    He, therefore, urged anyone willing to assess the government “to develop a marking scheme and mark us.”

    He said the essence of the forum was to formerly present a document to Nigerians about the workings of government in the last two years.