The Nation Newspaper

Tag: President Goodluck Jonathan

  • Presidential sermonising

    Presidential sermonising

    Homilies without the necessary steps will lead us nowhere

    President Goodluck Jonathan still faces the very serious challenge of effectively and clearly communicating his ideas to the public, especially when speaking off the cuff. This problem was, once again, evident when Dr Jonathan addressed the congregation at the Catholic Church, Area 3, Garki,Abuja, during the New Year Service on Wednesday. We find it difficult to understand why the President feels the compulsion to speak at these essentially religious events, and if he must, why he cannot make use of prepared texts. In the ‘sermon’ in question, for example, Dr Jonathan sounded unconvincing, even hypocritical, when he urged his fellow politicians to shun self-interest, put the country first and begin planning for the next generation.

    Yes, the sound bite might be right. The intention might appear honest and nationalistic. But many would expect charity to begin at home for the President in this regard. For both the President and the opposition, for example, governance has practically taken a back seat for some time now, as all attention and energy are focussed on the next election. The President in particular has refused to take the moral high ground as he has lent the weight of his office, for instance, to the fractiousness in the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) while also allowing aides close to him to utilise state institutions to undermine the legitimate government of Rivers State for petty, partisan reasons.

    The preoccupation with his second term ambition, albeit legitimate, has practically ripped his party apart, with negative implications for the polity. There is hardly anything in the 2014 Federal Government budget proposals that suggests our national leaders have any inkling of the immense hardships majority of Nigerians are going through. All that seem to matter are their vain, creature comforts such as acquiring and maintaining electricity generators, feeding pets in the presidential zoo or acquiring an 11th presidential jet in a country where millions are ravaged by hunger and want. This is certainly a far cry from the kind of elevated politics he advocated at the Catholic Church and makes Dr Jonathan’s words sound vacuous.

    Again, Dr Jonathan repeated his request for prayers to solve the country’s challenges. As he put it “Despite our challenges, all that we continue to request from you is your continuous prayers because we believe…And luckily we are in a Christian congregation, we believe that no matter what an individual thinks he is, if God doesn’t want an individual to succeed in achieving anything, you will not”. Of course, we believe in the efficacy of prayers. But we must also beware of the dangers of fatalism. The sensible bridge between the two is both to pray ardently to God but to also work hard and seriously to achieve desired objectives.

    Our leaders were elected to utilise their minds and talents in seeking for solutions to the country’s problems rather than expect God to do the job for them as President Jonathan’s remarks suggests. As things are, the country is drifting so badly under the present inept leadership that the existence of the present generation is endangered so much that they may be unable to produce or provide for the next generation Dr Jonathan appears so enamoured of.

    Another alarming aspect of President Jonathan’s ‘homily’ on this occasion was the impression he created that the problems confronting Nigeria are only a reflection of a larger global picture. In his words, “Just like the Senate President mentioned, the world as a whole is facing a lot of challenges at this period. If you put on your television and if you turn to the newspapers, there are always breaking news and the breaking news are not positive news …We are reading about crises everywhere. And our country, too, unfortunately, we also have our own fair share of crises. The issue of Boko Haram and the excesses of the militia groups, kidnapping in southern Nigeria. Boko Haram terrorist activities in the northern part of the country, but government is committed…”.

    Unfortunately, the language of the President in this respect does not suggest a government seriously committed to solving national problems. He insinuates, perhaps unintentionally, that since other parts of the world experience similar challenges, Nigeria cannot be an exception. From this perspective, the impression is created that our problems are common to the human race and there is nothing we can do about them. Yes, there is no human society devoid of problems. But serious societies are motivated by their problems and challenges to seek solutions and creating better, safer, healthier environments.

    Nigeria certainly has the material, human and natural resources to be one of the most successful countries on earth. But presidential sermonising without complementary actions will get us nowhere. All the prayers in the world without the requisite leadership qualities will only see us sinking deeper in the mire. We have had enough of sermonising from President Jonathan. It is time for decisive actions in the direction of national greatness. The President can start by taking action today on the Princess Stella Oduah gate scandal that stinks right under his nose.

  • Jonathan’s 11th jet

    Jonathan’s 11th jet

    •This is squandermania in the face of limited resources

     For President Goodluck Jonathan, we must add one to the 10 commandments: ‘thou shalt purchase an 11th presidential jet’. This ‘11th commandment’ was contained in the budget estimates submitted to the National Assembly by the Presidency. If the National Assembly approves the purchase, the government is expected to make an initial deposit of N1, 520,000,000 for the aircraft next year.

    Presently, the aircraft in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) are two Falcon 7X jets, two Falcon 900 jets, a Gulfstream 550, one Boeing 737 BBJ (Nigerian Air Force 001 or Eagle One), and a Gulfstream IVSP, one Gulfstream V, Cessna Citation 2 aircraft and Hawker Siddley 125-800 jet. Each of the Falcon 7X jets purchased in 2010 is said to cost about $51.1 million, while the Gulfstream 550 was purchased for $53.3 million.

    As we have always said, the Goodluck Jonathan presidency is not giving the impression that the country is facing any economic challenges, given its proclivity for frivolous expenses. Many of these have already been condemned at various fora.

    Honestly, we do not know how those preparing the budget for the Presidency reason. What does the President need an 11th presidential jet for? Jets are money guzzlers, whether on air or on ground. This is clear from the planned expenses on the items to be purchased by the PAF. Expectedly, there is a long list of fresh items in the budget for the fleet, including completion of hanger project for N405,500,000; tyre bay tools and equipment – N106,000,000, Towberless tow tractor for aircraft towing – N58,740,000, hanger sweeper – N31,870,000, luggage conveyor belt truck – N28,898,000 and harlan tow tug for aircraft equipment towing – N27,590,000.

    President Jonathan has something to learn from British Prime Minister David Cameron who slummed it out in business class on a flight from London for scheduled talks in Washington in 2010. This was unusual as British PMs usually travel on their own planes, use a Boeing 747 or 767, or use military jets. In this particular instance, Cameron did not even fly first class. He wanted to prove a point. As one British official put it then, “When we are asking the country to tighten their belts as much as we are, it’s very hard to justify hiring big jets to swan around the world. It may make his travel a little harder, but the Prime Minister believes it’s up to him to set an example.”

    Cameron’s point was that if government said it was broke, this should reflect even in the First Citizen’s actions and travels. What the government saved by his taking commercial flight was no more than $300,000, but that was beside the point. The real issue was in the huge gesture.

    We know it will be difficult to ask President Jonathan to travel by commercial flights, as he would readily cite security reasons; but then, he can set the tone by at least reducing the number of jets in the presidential fleet. Leaders should learn to cut their coats according to their country’s purse. It is not only the citizens that should make sacrifices in times of economic adversities. A gesture like that of Cameron in 2010 would have gone a long way in convincing the Britons.

    As we have said in previous editorials on the frivolous expenditures of the presidency, the National Assembly has a lot of work to do on the Federal Government’s 2014 budget. In 2010, Britain, like much of Europe, was in the midst of making drastic cuts to many government programmes in order to keep its economy afloat. Downturn in government’s finances would be a hard sell in a situation where the presidency is competing with individuals for private jets.

  • A soaring President

    A soaring President

    From his travel budget, it seems President Jonathan will spend a lot more time in the air in 2014 

    Next year’s budget proposals contain so many frivolous expenses that make it seem to us that President Goodluck Jonathan is out of sync with the country’s economic challenges. Today, we will however focus on the President’s proposed travel expenses in the coming year. Obviously, the President will spend more time on the air than he will on ground, going by the breakdown of the 2014 appropriation bill submitted to the National Assembly by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on December 19. According to the breakdown, the Presidency will spend about N2.3 billion on transportation next year. Of the amount, the State House will require the sum of N1, 219, 612, 417 for what it called local travels while international travels and transportation will gulp N1, 159, 240, 600. This is scandalously huge.

    And what it tells us at a glance is that the Presidency has learnt little or nothing from the criticisms of the past about its budget proposals, especially as they affect the seat of power vis-à-vis the state of the country’s finances. Once upon a time, it was thought that money was not the country’s problem but how to spend it. Going by this proposed travel expenses, President Jonathan appears to be living in that illusion. Except that such generosity is hardly reflected in government spending on the welfare of the generality of Nigerians. That is when excuses like ‘the country is broke’; ‘no, it is not broke but cash strapped’, come handy.

    There can’t be any tangible reason to justify such a huge expenditure on travels by the President, particularly foreign travels. When President Olusegun Obasanjo began such frivolous trips after the return to democratic rule in 1999, his excuse was that he was going in search of foreign investment. That has never been tenable because every Nigerian knows that the basic attractions for investors, foreign or local, are lacking in the country. Power supply is paramount in this regard. What we witnessed in the last few weeks, in spite of the privatisation of the power sector, is not encouraging. The signs are that we are still far away from the solution to the problem. There is also insecurity of all kinds, including terrorism by Boko Haram, armed robbery, kidnappings and sundry other crimes in the land, which is another serious put-off to investors.

    These challenges are yet to be tackled. The basic duty of government is provision of security of lives and property. This cannot be guaranteed in the country right now. Moreover, the economy is in a shambles; with many young graduates roaming the streets in search of elusive jobs. Industries are no longer humming; and many blue-chip companies have left Nigeria for countries with friendlier business environment. While the books are looking good, the economic reality on ground is a different ballgame entirely. Healthcare has collapsed, with every influential Nigerian travelling abroad for medical treatment for the most common ailments. Virtually every sector of the economy is ailing.

    Worse still, 2014 is a year when preparations will be in top gear for the 2015 general elections. Even in normal times, elections have not been a palatable experience in the country. Things will, expectedly, be different next year, with the political developments in the country.

    Another implication of the President’s travels is that Nigerians may lose more man-hours because whenever the president travels within the country, the economy of the city he is visiting is grounded. We can only imagine the trauma that Nigerians have to endure as the President continues his numerous unending trips across the country in search of what we cannot decipher.

    What is needed to turn the country around is renewed dedication on the part of the government. That is why we are surprised that President Jonathan still intends to engage more in foreign travels next year. We need a President that sleeps, in Shakespeare’s ‘words, ‘0 nights’, a leader that will be available 24 hours by seven days throughout the year.

    The National Assembly should scrutinise the budget proposals and approve only the expenditures on which Nigerians will derive value for every kobo spent, whether by the president or any agency, including the National Assembly itself, in 2014. It is the height of insensitivity for the President of the Federal Republic to gallivant (that is what his planned trips seem to us to be) when there are numerous problems requiring his attention, and worse still, at a time when some states of the federation are unable to meet their obligations due to paucity of funds. The era when the President travels with a large entourage is over. He should cut his travels according to our purse.

  • FT urges audit to resolve missing oil fund

    FT urges audit to resolve missing oil fund

    The Financial Times (FT) of London has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to order a forensic external audit of the oil accounts to clear up the confusion over missing oil funds.

    The global media firm said more than a generation technocrats, politicians and oil men have wrestled over whether and how to go about strengthening oversight of Nigeria’s opaque oil industry.

    “One conclusion that can be drawn from the official confusion this month over the proportion of oil revenues going missing is that little progress has been made in bringing greater transparency to the sector. Africa’s leading oil producer still hosts an industry subject to billions of dollars in abuse, in obvious need of more stringent monitoring.

    “The latest debate around the issue was sparked by a leaked letter to Goodluck Jonathan, the president. In it the central bank governor warned that the state oil company had failed between January 2012 and July 2013 to account for nearly $50bn in revenues from oil sales. “Somewhat inured though many Nigerians are to big-ticket scandals, the scale of this revelation elicited a sharp national intake of breath,” it said.

    The FT said such audit could go two ways. “It could expose the real extent of losses owing to gross mismanagement and knock a further dent in public confidence. However, it could also show that government is serious about plugging the holes, while adding urgency to the passage of legislation meant to restore the industry back to health,” it said.

    It said the central bank’s calculations contained big omissions and that after poring over the data, officials have whittled the figure for related shortfalls down to more like $11 billion. “There are big questions still left to answer, however. The first is how the state oil company justifies withholding the $11 billion identified. This in turn is part of a bigger puzzle over falling oil revenues that drove the central bank governor to raise the alarm in the first place.

    “It could expose the real extent of losses owing to gross mismanagement and knock a further dent in public confidence. However, it could also show that government is serious about plugging the holes, while adding urgency to the passage of legislation meant to restore the industry back to health,” it said.

  • Season of venomous letters

    Season of venomous letters

    His previous letters were not always a model of grammatical rectitude, nor even of moral and philosophical correctness, but his latest to President Goodluck Jonathan, dated December 2, but leaked to the media weeks after, offends every rule known to man, whether of common sense or of morality, of grammar or logic, of religion or politics. A more temperate man would be capable of arranging his thoughts with more finesse and better control of emotions than former President Olusegun Obasanjo did in his angry and caustic 18-page letter. Indeed, only Chief Obasanjo, judging from his antecedents and misshapen worldview, could have presented salient and weighty issues in such an offensive manner that commentators are left in a quandary whether to separate the message from the messenger or to consider the two in their obvious inextricable interconnectedness.

    Commentators have urged the separation of the message from the messenger. They hope that that would create a fair and unfettered understanding of the issues raised by Chief Obasanjo, and help promote the cause of peace, stability and good governance as the former president pretended to aim after in his letter. Already, Dr Jonathan is being pressured to respond to the issues raised in the controversial letter, and to discountenance the moral qualification of the letter writer. It makes a lot of sense to ask everyone to de-emphasise the moral qualification of the writer, for of all the living and dead presidents Nigeria has had in its chequered history, Chief Obasanjo appears to be the least qualified morally, politically or even philosophically to admonish, let alone censure, anyone. If no separation between the message and messenger is done, it is feared, the weight of Chief Obasanjo’s moral turpitude could considerably overshadow or attenuate some of the poignant points he raised in his letter.

    In short, the country is being asked to do a fractional distillation of the letter: separate the message from the messenger and isolate all the issues, while at the same time distilling the points one after the other in such a way that none of those points, no matter how seemingly contradictory, is diminished by the other or by the letter writer himself. The problem, however, is that the former president stands imposingly and almost inextricably between every point he raised. No useful consideration of any point could be done without being choked by the inconveniencing obtrusion of the follies and foibles of the letter writer. The scheming of Chief Obasanjo is too evident in every point he raised to be ignored. He was disingenuous, as indeed he likes to pride himself, but there was absolutely no altruism in him; and even his disingenuousness, in the light of his previous letters to Dr Jonathan and other presidents, is questionable.

    While it may seem more sensible to de-emphasise the failings of the letter writer, and instead focus more critically on the message he tried so futilely to convey, a much better approach would be to sift through the letter to identify areas for leadership improvement. For in the end, it is as important to curb Chief Obasanjo’s sanctimoniousness and end his unguarded and continuing meddlesomeness in national affairs as it is to extirpate the leadership mediocrity he has repeatedly helped to enthrone and which his letter has helped to draw attention to once again. Chief Obasanjo warned that he had a thick skin, and would simply disregard the criticisms, insults and sabre-rattling certain to follow the letter. By inference, he was also saying that anyone who seemed to have sympathy for the Jonathan camp or focused on the writer rather than his message would be engaging in a sterile exercise. We should not gratify him.

    He is doubtless famous for his inurement to insults and criticisms, no matter how accurate, well-meaning or wounding. And having got away with murder, as it were, in his previous letters to past presidents and heads of state, some of whom came to grief soon after, he seems accustomed to having his way and getting commentators to draw a line between the message and the messenger. Nigerians apparently do not understand that the problems Chief Obasanjo complained of were caused by his own distorted theology, monstrous politics, appalling worldview and extreme narcissism. It is, however, time he was told he would not be allowed to toy with the country; that he could not impose bad leaders only to turn round to assail and condemn his hapless stooges; that he could not foment evil and bring disaster upon the country and turn round to present himself a knight in shining armour; that he could not lay mines in the country’s politics only to turn round to either amputate shattered limbs as a benevolent doctor or administer euthanasia as a mercy killer.

    It is now more urgent than ever that the messenger must be demystified, disrobed and castrated if the country is to make progress. For he is not just integral to the country’s problems, as evidenced by his more than 30 years of anarchic intervention in national affairs, he is also in fact the architect of many of Nigeria’s recent woes. But while the demystification is going on, it is also urgent that as the architect is being led figuratively to the gallows, the social and bureaucratic monstrosities he has sired, his misbegotten political sons, and his eternal cocksureness must share his fate. So, commentators must dexterously weigh in balanced cadence the messenger and his message, the architect and his building, the creator and his creature, the hobgoblin and its spinoffs. Chief Obasanjo has wreaked so much havoc on the country by imposing mediocre leaders upon it, a point he casually gloated over again in his letter, that he should be denounced together with his creatures. If we spare him as he expects, perhaps for fear of diluting the intensity and gravity of his message, he will once again be left free to foment more trouble.

    It is clear that most of the weighty statements and allegations in his letter, whether against individuals, Dr Jonathan’s government, or his political opponents, are geared towards only one thing – creating a new and wider political space for Chief Obasanjo to practise more chicanery, not for the country to be renewed or to help it foster a political system that is self-correcting and self-healing. Chief Obasanjo’s main objective is his determination to ensure that Dr Jonathan does not present himself for re-election, as if that would make the ambitious and intransigent president less undemocratic than he has become. Everything Chief Obasanjo said in his rancorous letter was aimed at forging a consensus against Dr Jonathan. No one is fooled. Was Chief Obasanjo himself not denied third term? And did he not out of spite saddle the country with misfits? Would a spurned Jonathan not be capable of worse mischief, especially seeing how quite desperate and tyrannical he has become under the pressures of the past few months?

    Dr Jonathan is under pressure to respond. He apparently will. But it would be strange if the country were to be satisfied with his explanations, for whatever he has to say would be undermined by his constant vainglorious assertions and also be as misleading as the original letter from Chief Obasanjo. It is expected that pressure will be brought to bear upon the National Assembly to probe critical parts of the former president’s letter, such as the nefarious oil deals and alleged training and arming of death squads. The legislature may succumb to the pressure; but even then, given the impotence they have displayed over key national issues in the past few years, it is hard to see any probe from them amounting to anything. Nothing, of course, will be said on all the other futile and thoroughly acerbic parts of the letter. Apart from underscoring a strange and warped theology, arrogating ecclesiastical immunity to himself, and creating an unsustainable air of self-importance, those futile parts were meant to burnish the credentials of the former president.

    Nigeria must be clear what to make of Obasanjo’s letter. Its value appears to be no more than having the truculent old warhorse on the side of the anti-Jonathan forces. His support, however, must be taken very gingerly, especially by the All Progressives Congress (APC) rainbow coalition, for every time he rallied to a cause, such as when he opposed former President Shehu Shagari or even General Sani Abacha, the outcome had never been salutary. His opposition to Jonathan will not be different, for his cause is not always the same as the country’s, nor should we entertain the presumption that our capacity for intrigues and malevolence matches Chief Obasanjo’s. The letter is futile; Dr Jonathan’s response will also be futile. Chief Obasanjo was and remains a cankerworm to Nigeria’s body politic; Dr Jonathan is tarred with the same brush. Even if the president’s nose is put out of joint, he will struggle in a two-horse race with Chief Obasanjo to impose another mediocre on the country, if we let them.

    Nigeria must, therefore, look beyond Chief Obasanjo’s pompous letter. Given the Independent National Electoral Commission’s suggestion that elections might be difficult to organise in the Northeast in 2015, a region that has become a bastion of the opposition, the hurdles confronting those who wish to unhorse Dr Jonathan could become gargantuan. Neither Obasanjo nor Jonathan should be spared, notwithstanding the puerile threats by uninformed aides of the president to equate the call for Dr Jonathan’s impeachment with treason. Chief Obasanjo was not just an incompetent president with a very poor grasp of issues, as his latest letter shows to everyone’s dismay, his godson is even much worse. The message and the messenger do not deserve a decent hearing and should be thrown out, lest Chief Obasanjo should imagine he had scored a point with us. The country, if its enlightened citizens have any sense about them, should insist on taking on Dr Jonathan on their own, not at the behest of anyone, nor on the prompting of schemers. If we don’t, a much crueller fate than the lassitude our cowardice and misconceptions have brought upon us in the past one decade and more will befall us again in 2015.

  • 2014: Minister seeks more cash for local govts

    2014: Minister seeks more cash for local govts

    As President Goodluck Jonathan prepares to present the 2014 budget to the National Assemby, the Minister of Special Duties, Alhaji Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, has called for improved funding for the local governments.

    Turaki, who spoke yesterday in Abuja while declaring opening a Forum of key functionaries of Local Government in Nigeria, said the sector remains the closest to the grassroot people.

    The forum was organised by the Ministry in conjunction with the office of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP

    The Minister said the local governments will perform better if properly funded.

    He said the forum was organised by the Ministry to ensure that participatory development approaches were adopted at sub-national levels for effective local development.

    He said it imperative to ensure that councils improve their organisational structures and operations towards attracting new talents, expertise and know-how, while retaining useful organisational memory even beyond retirement for organisational development, he said.

    The Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme(UNDP), Daouda Toure, said as Nigeria moves into a new centennial, there’s need to take advantage of every opportunity that would address identified challenges that have militated against the country’s leadership position in democratic governance, and address development challenges that will lift the grass roots from endemic poverty and deprivation.

    He said this will ensure that visions, policies, programmes and projects are translated to desirable local level outcomes, while ensuring peoples engagement to empower them participate and benefit from their own governance institutions and development services.

    He urged the participants to come up with strategies and mechanisms that would strengthen and sustain dialogue between the three tiers of government on local governance and local development.

    He said it is gratifying to note that,since the re-emergence of democracy in Nigeria, the government and people of Nigeria have continually been creating a conducive environment for putting the people at the centre of development.

  • Jonathan’s serial sickness

    Jonathan’s serial sickness

    His curious health challenges outside the country have  implications for the image and dignity of the presidency

    Whatever was responsible for President Goodluck Jonathan’s unexpected illness in London, which caused him to miss the opening of a two-day meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council (HIIC) that coincided with his 56th birthday on November 20, it is unsurprising that the incident not only generated a vigorous controversy about his lifestyle, but also raised justifiable concern about his fitness and capacity to handle the inevitable pressures of his exalted office.

    Separating fact from fiction may indeed prove to be a challenging task, especially in the light of the hazy circumstances of Jonathan’s alleged indisposition, which was conveyed superficially by his special adviser on media and publicity, Reuben Abati. With the loud silence on the nature of the president’s ailment in the celebratory birthday context, it was predictable that certain observers would come up with interpretations suggesting that Jonathan had failed to recover quickly enough from the wining and dining that presumably marked his anniversary. Specifically, a particular online news portal famed for its unapologetic passion for sensationalism and dogged pursuit of “the news behind the news,” Sahara Reporters, alleged that Jonathan fell ill following a “heavy birthday party thrown to celebrate the President’s 56th birthday at his presidential suite in the InterContinental Hotel in London.”

    Although, Abati described this claim as “fictional nonsense”, and categorically denied that there was such a party, the important lesson from the conflicting information is that there will always be material to fill an informational vacuum. The presidency, perhaps deservingly, therefore suffered a damaging penalty for failing to adopt a proactive approach to the development. Abati’s reactive statement, full of sound and fury against the medium, laboured fruitlessly to reverse the imagination of the public. He said of Jonathan, “It has never been his custom to celebrate birthday anniversaries and no exception was made this year”; he stressed that “there was certainly no drinking spree.”

    Nevertheless, it is definitely curious that Jonathan’s illness manifested on his birthday; and even more intriguing is the fact that it was understated, leaving room for fertile conjectures. It is regrettable that the presidency’s information management unit, by omission, allowed a needless information gap that was exploited to Jonathan’s detriment.

    Be that as it may, Jonathan has obviously not helped matters with his rising record of unexplained sickness in foreign lands, compounded by the fact that the complaints usually arose in the course of official business. It is noteworthy that in the last three years, he has dramatically made news on account of such health issues. In the first of these sour incidents, it must be pointed out that contrary to Abati’s defensive claim that Jonathan is traditionally unenthusiastic about celebrating birthdays, the president in October 2011, caused a stir by throwing a party to mark his wife’s birthday in Perth, Australia, while he was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in that country. Or perhaps Abati meant that Jonathan was disinclined only when such celebration had to do strictly with himself.

    On the occasion in Australia, in the aftermath of the party, Jonathan failed to show up for a scheduled Presidential Roundtable; specifically, the Nigeria/Australia Mining Roundtable where he was expected to sell the country’s mining potential. It is instructive that an Australian newspaper, The Australian, described the development, perhaps diplomatically, as “mysterious.” It was simply disgraceful, especially because there was no formal explanation.   Interestingly, the shameful drama was replayed in May when Jonathan again failed to show up to give his scheduled address at the Special Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU), despite his arrival in the country for the historic event. There were contradictory accounts of his whereabouts and general confusion among Nigerian officials at the forum, which was a huge blow to the country’s image, given its prominence in the organisation. It goes without saying that, by his disappearing acts, Jonathan poses a security threat even to himself; for a situation where no one could account for the president’s whereabouts suggests he is not always protected and anything could happen to him.

    The latest episode in London worsened the country’s embarrassment at Jonathan’s serial sickness overseas. So disturbing is the recurrence that it is pertinent to wonder whether his constitution is especially vulnerable to conditions occasioned by such change of environment. Or is it possible, as it has been suggested, that the president is actually battling with particular lifestyle problems which get acute abroad? Of course, the President is entitled to his lifestyle choices, but certainly not at the expense of his job as the country’s leader. His status, without a shred of uncertainty, carries the consequence of high responsibility which should not be trivialised by fleshly indulgence.

    It is possible to contemplate other possibilities that are also worrying. Could Jonathan’s condition be a reaction to over-travelling, or work overload, or even deficient psychological stamina?

    Although it must be conceded that his essential nature as a human makes him susceptible to illness, it is equally important to underline the fact that holding a public office of such significance makes his health status a public issue, and the people have a right to know. We practise a democracy that should unveil the state of health of our elected officers. The president should enjoy no exception. The health of a nation depends, to a great degree, on the health of those who govern it.

  • 2015: 400 Northerners bribed to betray region, says Aliyu

    2015: 400 Northerners bribed to betray region, says Aliyu

    Chairman of the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), Dr. Babangida Aliyu, yesterday alleged that 400 prominent northerners have been bribed with a view to returning President Goodluck Jonathan to office in 2015.

    He vowed to publicly name those involved in the plot to ‘betray’ the north in 2015 “as soon as we lay our hands on the list of the people”.

    The Niger State governor spoke in Minna at the 25th anniversary of the enthronement of Alhaji Umaru Bahago as Emir of Minna.

    “We are looking for that list so that we will tell the people of the region that these are the people that want to betray you,” he said.

    “We heard a rumour that some people have a list of 400 prominent northerners that they are going to settle and that they are sure if they settle the 400 everything will be okay in 2015.”

    But he said the North has nothing to be afraid of in 2015 since election is a game of numbers.

    He said: “No matter what happens in 2015 we (northerners) should not be afraid because politics is a game of numbers. Through the ballot box we can always determine who becomes our leader. Do not be afraid, let there be 200 candidates, God will allow only one to emerge.”

    He expressed dismay at the outcome of the Anambra governorship election, saying: “we prayed that what happened in Anambra would not repeat itself in 2015 because that could cause a problem for all of us as a nation.

    “We must put our hands on the deck to ensure that INEC, and the people understand the right thing.”

    He paid tribute to the Emir’s late father and predecessor, Alhaji Ahmadu Bahago, as ” an epitome of leadership commitment and foresight, measurable by the time and energy he invested in everything.

    “I think the greatest legacy left behind for this nation by the late Emir was his ability to provide a pragmatic and dynamic leadership that balanced the interests of all the diverse people of Minna Emirate Council as a foundation for the remarkable growth and development we are witnessing in Minna today,” he said.

    He pointed out that there would be no ethnic violence in any part of the country if every leader behaved like the late Ahmadu Bahago.

    Also speaking, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, said the country needs a visionary and focused leader to take the country to greater heights, adding that without peace and security the development of the country will be hampered.

  • Jonathan’s illness not caused by hang-over, says Abati

    Jonathan’s illness not caused by hang-over, says Abati

    •Due back home today

    President Goodluck Jonathan’s recent illness in London was not caused by any birthday hangover, his Chief Spokesman, Dr.Reuben Abati, said yesterday.

    Abati who explained that his principal is now fit and due back home today debunked a social media report that the illness was triggered by a “heavy birthday party thrown to celebrate the President’s 56th birthday at his Presidential Suite in the InterContinental Hotel in London.”

    He denounced the report as “fictional nonsense” and declared that “there was definitely no party in London to celebrate President Jonathan’s birthday on Wednesday night.”

    The president was in London to attend the Honorary International Investors’ Council (HIIC). However, he fell ill and could not attend the Thursday session of the meeting.

    Abati said the president was treated for abdominal pains and the doctor who attended to him has certified him fully fit to return home and continue his official duties.”

    “After a thorough evaluation of the President’s symptoms, medically referred to as acute abdomen, the doctors concluded that no surgical intervention was required.

    “President Jonathan will therefore return to Abuja tomorrow evening (today)and will be at work in the Presidential Villa as usual on Monday.”

    He expressed the president’s appreciation to all Nigerians for “their sympathy, support and prayers for his quick recovery following the announcement of his indisposition.”

    But he had harsh words for those who suggested that the illness was caused by a birthday hangover.

    He said the report was “utterly irresponsible, deplorable, highly unprofessional and unethical antics.”

    According to him, it is “very regrettable indeed that after, in compliance with President Jonathan’s standing instruction that Nigerians must never be kept in the dark about the state of his health, the public was duly informed that the president had received precautionary medical attention for an unexpected indisposition in London, some other reckless, lawless, impudent and unpatriotic internet-based media chose to assault the sensibilities of all decent Nigerians again with their entirely fictional, malicious, hate-driven and scurrilous distortion of the facts of the president’s indisposition.

    “The truth is that President Jonathan observed his 56th birthday quietly. For part of the day, he was airborne, in transit between Abuja and London. On arrival in London, he spent the rest of the day in the privacy of his hotel room. It has never been his custom to celebrate his birthday and no exception was made this year.

  • President to meet with global investors

    President to meet with global investors

    President Goodluck Jonathan left Abuja today for London to preside over a three-day meeting of Nigeria’s Honorary International Investors’ Council.

    Issues on the agenda of the meeting include generating long-term affordable finance for Nigeria’s real sector, developing the nation’s private equity and venture capital sectors to attract more foreign investments as well as Nigeria’s information and communications technology master-plan.

    The council meeting, which is coordinated by Baroness Lynda Chalker, will also feature a review of Nigeria’s investment policies by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Paris-based international organisation dedicated to the promotion of policies for improving the economic and social well-being of people around the world.

    Members of the council include the CEO of the Investment Corporation of Dubai, Mr. Mohammed al Shaibani; a former South African Minister of Public Enterprises, Mr. Alec Erwin; Vice President of Hewlett-Packard’s Enterprise Group in Europe, Middle-East and Africa, Mr. Olivier Suinat; a former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mr. Shaukat Aziz and the Director of Shell’s International Upstream Business, Mr. Andrew Brown.

    Jonathan will be accompanied by Governors Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Senators Emmanuel Paulker and Nenadi Usman; House of Representatives members Sylvester Ogbaga and Isiaka Bawa; the Coordinating of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Dr. Olusegun Aganga and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, among others.