Despite President Jonathan's claim of excellent performance in the regime's mid-term report, the unanswered question remains: are Nigerians better off today than they were when he came in? Vincent Obia writes

The last one week has seen a vigorous debate in the media on President Goodluck Jonathan's mid-term report on the execution of his "Transformation Agenda." Jonathan delivered the report on Democracy Day with a vibrant - almost haughty - tone that reflected the thinking within the government. But outside the government, especially, among the masses, it is virtually impossible to find anyone who will confess that they have witnessed changes that are anywhere near the bright picture the president had painted. The reason is obvious.

When Jonathan was inaugurated in 2011, he rolled out a transformation agenda he said was designed to tackle some core problems, including unemployment and poverty, rising debt profile - especially domestic debts, high recurrent over capital expenditure, over-dependence on oil, inflation, infrastructure and housing deficit, falling external reserves, and food insecurity. Two years on, those problems remain largely unresolved.

The country's annual budget is still markedly skewed in favour of recurrent expenditure. For instance, in the 2013 budget, nearly 70 percent of the total funds are earmarked for recurrent expenditure, against about 30 percent for capital expenditure.

Budget accountability remains a problem. The federal government has seemed to adopt a policy of keeping oil price benchmarks low to accommodate the vagaries of the international pricing system. But even though the feared shortfalls in prices have hardly occurred in recent years, leaving the country with huge excess crude oil revenues, the extra income has mainly been consumed in recurrent expenditure or used to cover deficits that experts say are needless. Last year, the federal government made borrowings to cover a deficit of between N700 billion and N800 billion in the budget, despite the fact that oil prices hovered between $90 and $115 per barrel, against the budgeted benchmark of $72.

The above situation has caused a needless accumulation of debts. Nigeria had risen to become the biggest recipient of disbursements from the International Development Association between 2009 and 2012. The country is also said to have the biggest outstanding IDA portfolio in Africa.

The IDA is an international financial institution under the World Bank Group that offers concessional loans and grants to the world's poorest developing countries. Though, Nigeria remains comfortably within the internationally accepted 40 per cent debt/Gross Domestic Product ratio and the 25 per cent country specific threshold for debt stock levels, experts doubt if the country really belongs to the class of countries the IDA funds are meant for, judging by its huge surplus earnings from oil.

The mid-term report stated that the government's annual borrowing had fallen from N852 billion in 2011 to N588 billion in 2013. This amount could double before the end of the year. But the unanswered question remains: are Nigerians better off today than they were when Jonathan took over?

Only last December, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, lamented that the country was borrowing too much and heaping up a heavy debt burden for future generations.

The national debt comprises mainly government bonds and treasury bills. The government makes these borrowings from banks at exorbitant rates, which creates a disincentive for lending to the real sector. Experts say economic productivity would hardly be encouraged at the present lending interest rate of between 15 and 20 percent.

In the power sector, which experts describe as the main engine of growth, with a population of nearly 200 million, Nigeria only managed to leap from about 2, 000 megawatts, when Jonathan came in 2011, to just over 4, 000 megawatts. This represents an improvement, but it is one that is too infinitesimal for a country that aspires to be among the world's 20 largest economies by 2020.

Besides, Nigeria's electricity production puts it far behind its closest competitors in Africa, like South Africa. With a population of about 50 million people, South Africa produces 34, 000 megawatts of electricity to meet current demands, and this production figure is said to increase every year.

The administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo had laid the basic foundation for power transformation, which many had expected the Jonathan government to take beyond the present state.

Despite marginal improvements, quality and quantity of education remains in shortfall. The Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa'I, disclosed in April that only 520,000 (30%) of the over 1.7 million candidates that wrote this year's Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) could gain admission into the country's universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.

The plight of the education sector may not end soon, what with the 8.7 percent allocation to education in this year's budget - a paltry leap, but a far cry from the United Nations recommended rate of at least 26 percent for developing countries.

The fear in many circles is that things may not get any better in the next two years of the president's tenure, as governance looks set to take a backseat for politics ahead of the 2015 general election.

While no one would contest that that there have been flickers of hope here and there since the last two years, it is obvious that the rate of progress does not call for the kind of pass mark Jonathan awarded his administration in his mid-term report.

POLITICAL NOTES

The attempt to make the National Youth Council of Nigeria another battlefield for the 2015 politics is very unfortunate. The yoke of partisanship has made it impossible for the NYCN to elect a new leadership after two attempts in Akure and Makurdi. Reports allege that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, working through the Minister of Youth Development, had imposed a candidate on the council even without an election.

While campaigning for the 2011 presidential election, President Goodluck Jonathan found it handy to use the NYCN to reach millions of young people across the country. But no one seemed to complain. However, the current attempt to hijack, corrupt, and reduce the otherwise non-partisan organisation to the crude partisanship that is the lot of Nigerian politics at the moment is evil, to say the least.

Rather than corrupt the youth of the country through undue infiltration of their ranks, the ruling party or, indeed, any serious political party should think of how to groom young people within its fold for future leadership. The African National Congress in South Africa is doing this, and it is the practice in every country in world where the political class is serious-minded.

Nigeria's President Jonathan  declares state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has announced a state of emergency in the country's northeast. He said the government would do everything to put an end to the terrorist attacks.

Nigeria put its northeast states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa under a state of emergency amid an increase of terrorist activity from the Islamist insurgent group Boko Haram in recent weeks.

"These actions amount to a declaration of war and a deliberate attempt to undermine the authority of the Nigerian state and threaten [its] territorial integrity," said President Jonathan in a live broadcast Tuesday night. "As a responsible government, we will not tolerate this."

The president said the terrorist activities were a "threat to [Nigeria's] national unity" and a "systematic effort" to destabilize the country.

Jonathan ordered troops to help stem the insurgency in the country's northeast where some towns have reportedly fallen under the control of Boko Haram. The state politicians will retain the powers of the offices they hold despite the military deployment to the region.

Boko Haram, whose name means, "Western education is sacrilege," in the Hausa language has been calling for shariah law to be imposed across Nigeria.

Muslims comprise about half of Nigeria's population of 175 million. About 40 percent of its citizens are Christian.

Since launching their insurgency against the central government in 2010, Boko Haram and splinter groups have staged numerous terrorist attacks on security forces and civilians, in which at least 1,600 people were killed.

Late last week, 200 heavily armed gunmen staged a coordinated attack on a police station and prison in Borno state in a bid to free inmates. At least 55 people died in the siege.

kms/msh (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)

Source: Deutsche Welle

Jonathan rejects amnesty calls for Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan visiting the region at the heart of an Islamist insurgency for the first time since he was elected in 2011, on Thursday rebuffed calls for an amnesty deal for the extremists.

President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit came amid mounting political pressure for him to travel to the region and followed calls this week from Nigeria’s top Islamic figure for an amnesty deal for insurgents.

Jonathan landed in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state and considered the home base of Islamist extremists Boko Haram, and travelled by helicopter to neighbouring Yobe state, also hit by repeated attacks blamed on the group.

Security was tight, with soldiers stationed along roads and movement restricted. He is due to return to Maiduguri later Thursday for a visit that will extend into Friday.

The president said he could not rule out an amnesty deal in the future, but said that it was impossible to negotiate an agreement with Boko Haram because their identities and demands remained unclear.

“You cannot declare amnesty for ghosts,” Jonathan told an audience of politicians and dignitaries in the Yobe state capital Damaturu, broadcast live on national television.

Jonathan made reference to a 2009 amnesty deal for militants in the oil-producing Niger Delta region, where the president is from.

The deal has been credited with greatly reducing unrest in the Niger Delta, but criminality has since flourished, including the theft of crude oil on a massive scale, costing Nigeria an estimated $6 billion per year.

“In the Niger Delta, if you call them, they come and they will tell you their grievances,” he said. “But Boko Haram, I don’t see anybody who says they are Boko Haram.”

The visit came with Jonathan facing political pressure to visit the northeast, wracked by scores of bombings and shootings blamed on Boko Haram. The military has been accused of major abuses in response to the insurgency.

It is also the region where seven members of a French family were believed taken after being kidnapped on February 19 just over the border in Cameroon. They remain held by the abductors and their whereabouts are unknown.

There have been growing calls for Jonathan to visit the area. A group of opposition state governors visited Maiduguri last week, drawing further attention to Jonathan’s absence there.

Jonathan earlier in the day held talks with Yobe governor Ibrahim Geidam and was due to help commission a number of government projects.

Violence linked to Boko Haram’s insurgency in northern and central Nigeria has left some 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.

The group has claimed to be fighting for an Islamic state in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest oil producer, though its demands have repeatedly shifted.

It is believed to include various factions with differing aims, in addition to imitators and criminal gangs who carry out violence under the guise of the group.

Nigeria’s 160 million population is roughly divided between a mainly Muslim north and predominately Christian south. Jonathan, a southern Christian, has been accused by his opponents of neglecting the northeast.

Mr. President, Dare Boko Harams!

Dear Mr President,

Sir.

I am writing this piece upon my return from Maiduguri "The Seat of the Kanuris" "Home of Hospitality". Maiduguri, a once bustling town for beehive of commerce: for trader’s en-route to Lake Chad for buying and selling of fish. The only city Othman Dan Fodio could neither conquer nor capture in his jihad conquest. Maiduguri, Nigeria international gateway to Chad [Gamboru Ngala], has suddenly turn into a city that has to go to sleep by 6:00pm.

The once proud Kanuri's has being forced into recluse; the menace of Boko Haram on the economy off Borno State is beyond my permutation. From a political thug created by the former state governor Senator Ali Modu Sheriff 'ECOMOG', this political thug metamorphoses into Africa's second deadliest Islamic sect.

They have virtually turned Maiduguri nay the entire North Eastern part of Nigeria into a no go area. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, despite security warnings dare the Boko Haram enclave, he went, he saw, he dialogue. Your Vice-President Arc Namadi Sambo also briefly visited Maiduguri.

But sir, your Excellency haven't dare to step into Maiduguri [the Boko Haram enclave] to see for yourself the magnitude of human, materials and environmental destruction the Boko Haram has unleashed on the hapless citizens of the North East zone of Nigeria.

2015 presidency is now a ding-dong, if eventually your party [PDP] fielded you and you sail through as the PDP flag-bearer, will you be in Maiduguri for hustling? May be Aso Rock Villa's hillock is shielding your Excellency. It is time, you dare the Boko Haram, visit Maiduguri, your Excellency and behold a once 'Pearl of the Kanuri's' turned to 'Darkness at Noon'.

In raising the American flag on the Japanese Island of Iwojima, by the US Marines, the allied commander General Arthur Mac-Douglas, described Japan's 'kamikaze' divine wind' [the once supposedly invincible wind],as a defeated man made wind!

photo:VON

The sects are not faceless, endure your Excellency and pay a visit to Maiduguri, enough of this annihilation of defenseless and hapless Maiduguri citizens. Senator Alimodu Sheriff is still alive same goes to some senior serving National Assembly members, senior government [federal and state] officials and businessmen who have being indicted for aiding and sponsoring these sects.

In the heat of Iraq war, former US President, George Bush, was in Baghdad. Borno State is part of your constituency and your Excellency should not watch the state reduce to rubles. Maiduguri is at standstill, with fear all over. Commercial activities [especially the internationalfish trading market] are gradually going and have been paralyzed. It is indeed a sad scenario seeing Maiduguri, a once thriving city going under, no thanks to the Boko Haram malaise.

Mr President, you are the last man standing not to have visited Maiduguri [the Boko Haram enclave], your deputy has dared, your visit may and hopefully calm the sects. Mahatma Gandhi was quoted as saying at his ashram to Lord Irwin "when your country and mine shall get together on the teachings laid down by Christ in his Sermon on the Mount, we shall have solved the problems not only of our country but those of the whole world".

Mr President, try Mahatma Gandhi's ashram meeting with Lord Irwin and visit the Boko Haram, dare them!

Enough of these wanton killings and destruction!

Taiwo Lawrence Adeyemi.

Country Representative; Whisper Poetry.

www.whisperpoetry.com.

Alternate Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Cells:+234 [0] 812-148-2077.

+234 [0] 816-950-3218.

"As you inch towards the ultimate in life. Lessons are meant to learn in the highest level of administration"

Welcome to Nigeria's seat of power [Aso Rock Presidential Vila] media musketeers, where critics of Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan [writers, social commentators and opposition political parties] are sent to the cleaners by the president three media musketeers; Reuben Abati, Labaran Maku, and Doyin Okupe. The trio are so proficient in their media counter attacks that one wonders if President Goodluck Jonathan will be Nigeria's president for life. Reuben Abati's tweeting, Labaran Maku's press releases and Doyin Okupe's press briefings.

May be president Goodluck Jonathan should have look for someone like Cassius Longinus; described as a "Living Library and A Walking Museum", and the three media musketeers should red the biography of Cassius Longinus, and learn the rudiments of becoming a  good adviser, as this will aid them in their respective advise to the President Goodluck Jonathan.

In his tweets, Reuben Abati is always attacking perceived and imaginary enemies of the president/ Reuben Abati who once command my respect [I was even contemplating meeting him before his appointment to write a forward of my upcoming book "Nigeria; My Country, My Hopes"] but with hs recent outbursdt on Twitter, I have confine Reuben Abati into the confine of a forgotten mentor. During his days as th Editorial Chairman, Guardian

Newspaper, I look forward each day to read Guardian Newspaper Editorial. A man who once carve a nich for himself on the terrain of Nigeria media and is about leaving a rich footprints, has suddenly plummeted into the dustbin of Nigeria media footprints history. Abati's "Hypocrisy of Yesterdays Men" is a sheer insults!

As for Doyin Oupe, the fear of EFCC is the beginning of wisdom. With his current travails with Benue State government over alleged contract scandal and non-performance of job and possible arrest by the EFCC. It is indeed not surprising seeing Doyin Okupe doing a yeoman's job having previously serve Olusegun Obasanjo as a Media  aide.

Labran Maku, Nigeria's Minister of Information couldn't have done otherwise. He has continue to use the once most revere ministry under Professor Dora Akuyili, to denigrate Jonathan's critics [perceived or imaginary]. He has to effectively counter ACN's effective media propaganda. Labaran Maku will want Nigerians to forget history as Nigerians  rarely remembers HISTORY!

Nigeria's Information Minister, Labaran Maku photo:omg

President Jonathan has not only fumbled and wobbled he has waffled, a close look at his two years in the saddle of Nigeria's affairs as a ruler, his performances is nothing to write about. No significant performer and achievement in all segments and sector of Nigeria. The most alarming monsters; CORRUPTION and UNEMPLOYMENT remain untamed! YOUWIN, SURE-P, EFCC, ICPC and The Judiciary, has remain a toothless Alsatian dog that can neither bark nor bite.

By next year 2014, Nigeria will be celebrating here 100th year as an entity and in all these, it has been woes upon woes afflicted on the hapless citizens of Nigeria by the her rulers. The trio of Jonathan Media musketeers is creating a media rhythm danceable to all; Reuben Abati on Twitter, Jonathan on Facebook, Doyin Okupe on Press Briefings, and Labara Maku on Press Releases!

And the president making it known on Facebook that he has started creating jobs maybe for; Gravediggers, Kidnappers, 419, Human Parts sellers, Prostitutes and Kid laborers.

Can the media war unleashed by President Jonathan's three media musketeers sway votes for him in 2015? "To your tents, Nigerians in 2015."

Again, I await Reuben Abati's accusations of malapropism!

Taiwo Lawrence Adeyemi.

Country Representative; Whisper Poetry.

www.whisperpoetry.com.

Alternate Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Cells:+234 [0] 812-148-2077.

+234 [0] 816-950-3218.

The power of speech by leaders, human rights campaigners and religious leaders are captivating, soothe pains, calm fray nerves, encourages, and propels patriotic zeal. Famous leaders, human rights campaigners, clergy men world over has one time or the other use the power of speech to inspire their followers "I Have a Dream;

“There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, ‘When will you be satisfied?’ We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: ‘For Whites Only.’ We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until ‘justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.’

“I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed" by Rev Martin Luther King Jr of US, inspire and propel US Blacks to equal rights., "This not the end of the beginning nor the beginning of the end, but the beginning  of the beginning" by Winston Churchill, propel the Britons after the 2nd World War, "America New Deal", by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, propels the Americans after the 2nd World War " He who makes peaceful change impossible, makes violent change impossible" By Mahatma Gandhi, "Think of what you can do for your country, and not your country can do for you", by J.F.Kennedy, ignites the patriotism in Americans, President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo to the World Muslim Congress earn him the Noble Prize In Peace and also" I Believe, I Can, It Is Possible" elicited voters across USA to vote for him.

Famous oratorical prowess of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abibakar Tafawa Balewa, Kwame Nkruma of Ghana, Nelson Mandela of South Africa conveys messages that are famous, inspiring, encouraging, pains soothing, convincing and ignites patriotic zeal.

Since coming to power as Nigeria president, president Goodluck Jonathan has continue to slip further into confusion, controversies, vision less and leadership inept with his speeches, comments and interviews. While some world leaders use their oratorical prowess to hone their leadership abilities, president Jonathan's speeches has rather been disillusion, confused, immature, and brazenly laden with opaqueness.

Corruption laden officials have thrive under Jonathan than any previous administration in Nigeria's 52 years as an entity. With a whooping N5.2tn allegedly siphon under Jonathan]'s administration One would have thought Jonathan will be a better leader, [having serve as a deputy governor, a governor, deputy vice-president, acting president and eventually becoming a president] to have learn the rudiments of leadership.

"American Patriotism", "Chinese Attitude", "German Determination", "French Diplomacy", "Japanese Fighting Spirit" are some of world leaders phrase for their countries identities and use to inspire their citizens for a call to duty..

The PDP, [Africa's most corrupt laden party] will be doing itself a disservice if it eventually fielded President Johnathan as it's flag bearer for the 2015 presidential polls, in all sectors of Nigeria PDP and other political parties has all failed in their service delivery to the electorates. With the impending merger of ACN, CPC and ANPP [my hope is that the merger plan materializes], PDP is in for a SHOCKER in 2015.

2011 was an eye opener for Nigerian electorates, 2015 is going to to be a CYCLONE to the politicians, Jonathan once fooled us that he has no sandal while attending secondary school, now he trekked from UNIPORT to Otuoke his country home. Irrespective of his administrative ineptitude, his comments on Boko Haram, Odi Invasion by Olusegun Obasasjo, Fuel Subsidy Scams, Pension Fund Scam, NNPC Monolith, Deziani Allison-Madueke untouchable posture, he should have at different fora, meetings, gatherings, public functions, and his opaque presidential media chat to reach out to the already famished, confused, tired and worn out Nigerians with his policies and nonchalant attitude to the massive looting and corruption under his administration.

In his various presidential media chat, you could see fidgeting, wobbling and fumbling of words. 2015 fielding of President Jonathan by PDP, will definitely signal the end of Africa's monolith and most corrupt ridden political party goes to oblivion, [even if the merger between the opposing political parties fails to materializes].

Like the words of late Gen Owoye Azazi [retd] "PDP lacking of internal democracy remains the bane of Nigeria's problems." [a prophetic statement], "and also the anthill of Nigeria's development", quote mine.

Taiwo Lawrence Adeyemi.

Country Representative; Whisper Poetry.

www.whisperpoetry.com.

Alternate Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Full Text : Nigeria's President Jonathan Message to Nigerians

1. I greet and rejoice with you all as we celebrate the advent of a new year.

2. I join you all in giving thanks to God Almighty for bringing us and our beloved nation safely through the past year to the beginning of 2013 which, by His Grace, will be a much better year for us and our country.

3. In keeping with tradition, it is usual for individuals, institutions and organizations to make resolutions and set agenda as a new year begins, to guide their actions in the coming months.

4. I have already given a clear indication of the Federal Government’s agenda for 2013 in recent pronouncements. Our objective for the year is to ensure by all possible means that more of the programmes and projects envisioned by this administration, and which are already being embarked upon are further brought on stream within the next 12 months to meet the yearnings of our people, and raise the quality of life.

5. We have in the last year achieved a lot in terms of the positive transformation of vital sectors of our national life such as public infrastructure, power supply, oil and gas, transportation, education, health and agricultural development. We will continue to work diligently in 2013 to ensure that our efforts in these areas are carried forward to full fruition in fulfillment of our promise of better public services and improved living conditions for all Nigerians.

6. We will give priority attention in the coming year to flood and erosion control, the rehabilitation and expansion of existing federal roads, improved power supply, as well as the continued rehabilitation, upgrading and reactivation of the national rail network.

7. Employment generation and wealth creation will also remain a primary objective of our socio-economic agenda for 2013. Creating more employment opportunities for our youth and graduates of our universities is an imperative that will continue to underpin our drive for massive economic growth, the rapid expansion of our manufacturing and industrial base, and the productive diversification of our national economy. In this regard, we will continue to provide the necessary enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.

8. As peace and security remain pre-requisite conditions for the full realization of our objectives, we will also do more in 2013 to further empower our security agencies who are working in collaborative partnerships with our friends in the international community to stem the scourge of terrorism in our country and enhance the security of lives and property in all parts of Nigeria.

9. I also want to assure Nigerians that we will refuse to be discouraged by those who have taken it upon themselves to pick on every initiative and effort of this administration. We remain resolutely committed to the rule of law, due process and fair play in all circumstances. Our democracy continues to grow, and the scope for human freedom continues to expand. It is an achievement that we will continue to build upon.

10. I say it again, we are determined to continue to push forward. We will do more, not less. We will remain focused.

11.For your part, dear compatriots, I urge that you all include in your new year resolutions a commitment to do more this year to support the implementation of the Federal Government’s Agenda for National Transformation in every possible way. That is all I ask for.

12. The task of making our dear nation a much better place for present and future generations cannot be left to government alone. Leaders and followers alike have critical roles to play in our march towards the fulfillment of our great national potentials.

13. Let us all therefore resolve as we celebrate the new year to place the higher interests of national unity, peace, stability and progress above all other considerations and work harder in our particular fields of human endeavour to contribute more significantly to the attainment of our collective aspirations.

14. I wish you all a happy and rewarding 2013.

15. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

President

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Dearest Compatriots,

1. I greet and felicitate with you all as we join the rest of the world in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ the Messiah many years ago in Bethlehem.

2. Christmas and the lessons of Jesus Christ's mission on earth have great significance for us as a people and there can be no doubt that we all, irrespective of our religious beliefs, can draw immense strength and inspiration from the Messiah's enduring personification of selflessness, dedication to duty, and commitment to the well-being of others.

3. The virtues and ideals of peace, tolerance, faithfulness, honesty, justice, fairness, true wisdom, knowledge and understanding which He taught and exemplified also remain very relevant to us in Nigeria as we continue to grapple with the challenges of development and nation-building.

4. My Administration continues to do its best to give our beloved country effective leadership towards rapidly overcoming present challenges.

5. As we celebrate Christmas, the ultimate significance of which is the fulfillment of God's promise of a Saviour for mankind, I urge you all to continue to trust in our unwavering commitment to fully achieving the objectives of our Agenda for National Transformation for the benefit of all Nigerians.

6. No one should doubt that we have the political will and determination to deliver on our promise of positive changes in the living conditions of our people in the shortest possible time.

7. While we continue to deal with the regrettable distractions posed by threats to peace and security in parts of the country, the Federal Government remains very focused on the primary objective of achieving significant improvements in priority areas such as public infrastructure, power supply, transportation, roads, health, education, job creation, agriculture and industrialization as quickly as possible.

8. It is my hope and expectation that more of the efforts, actions and measures we are already undertaking in these areas will successfully come to fruition next year and make the results of the diligent project planning and execution being done under this administration more apparent to all Nigerians.

9. I seize the opportunity of the Christmas celebrations to express my sincere appreciation, once again, to the vast majority of patriotic Nigerians who have kept faith with this Administration since its inception.

10. We will continue to count on your support and cooperation, as well as your prayers for peace, stability and progress of our beloved nation.

11. I wish you all a very merry Christmas.

Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

President

Federal Republic of Nigeria

December 25, 2012

Last Sunday’s Presidential chat, about fourth in the series, was probably President Goodluck Jonathan’s well conceived strategy to sketch out his pan-Nigerian view, react to some national questions, forge interaction with the nation, explain, defend crucial policies and standpoints of the government, reassure the electorate on the transformation course of the administration.

The format was markedly different from that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo which was a phone-in thing receiving calls on issues from people all over the country and the president responding.

Political analysts and critics believed that Goodluck Jonathan may have had foreknowledge of the issues to be raised and the questions packaged for him. But no one can be so emphatic about that.

However, the crux of the matter is that the country is riddled with so many socio-economic maladies, security challenges, seething with corruption and injustice appalling to the people who looked up to their president at the media chat to assuage and honestly, genuinely point the way to redemption. To a large extent, it was not exactly so.

Rather, the presidential media chat brought more questions than answers, leaving people more confused than before.

Eustace Folusho, an engineer with a construction firm, said the president was just beating about the bush.

“How can President Jonathan say that electricity supply has improved? As I was listening to the chat on TV, there was sudden blackout. PHCN took power. I had to look for a transistor radio to continue listening to the interview. It seemed that the government is only interested in the oil sector where cheap money comes from.”

He added: “Jonathan was even justifying the involvement of some past heads of state in the power sector insinuating that because they are former heads of state does not mean they should not earn a living. I was shocked. It  is so  sad that these ex-leaders are coming back to bid for their companies to own distribution and generating companies in the power sector.”

Folusho lamented that there had been no improvement in power supply since the exit of Prof Barth Nnaji.

“Electricity has multiplier effect on the economy and power supply has dropped drastically. We are now paying more for darkness. It is mere propaganda for Jonathan to say power has improved. This could be so in few places but we have darkness in most places.”

Deinde Oluyemi, an administrative executive with an Insurance firm in Lagos, decried the attitude of President Jonathan to corruption, making excuses for the Halliburton and Siemens bribe scandals in which no Nigerian has been found culpable so far.

“I think he lacks the political will to fight corruption. There are glaring incidents of high profile corruption involving top politicians, their children, friends, relatives and so on, but nothing has happened to them. Let’s hope justice will come soon for the corrupt leaders and government officials.”

Oluyemi noted that the president seemed dodging some questions and  giving income inconclusive responses to many others.

“Look at the issue of monetisation. The president agreed that the idea of monetisation was theoritically good, but the problem was implementation. Yet there are cases of officials using government vehicles and still receiving vehicle allowances. Also those top people who bought  their official houses at rock-bottom prices only to demand that new houses be built for them at high cost.

Again probe reports are never implemented, locked up inside government cupboards and left to gather dust. Those indicted by these reports are not brought to justice. For how long can we continue like this?”, he asked. “Yet the president was telling the nation that reports are being implemented only  that people  are not noticing the implementation.”

On the disparity between capital and recurrent expenditures in the national budget, Oluyemi believed that the ratio between  capital and recurrent can be further bridged.

“A situation in which over 70% of the budget goes to recurrent expenditure while less than 25% for capital can not make for national development, I observed President Jonathan trying to explain how the recurrent is now going to 65% and capital above 35% and that any demand for increased salaries and allowances are met from the capital fund. And that the objective is to have a parity of 50/50, promising the country would get  there.”

The insurance practitioner likened the chat to Tales by moonlight usually told to children by elders in a village setting.

“Our president is yet to get cracking and be more serious in finding solutions to national problems. He cannot just be telling story.”

On corruption, Oluyemi enjoined Nigerians to take with “pinch of salt,” president’s declaration that he is fighting the monster.

Jonathan had said: “I can assure Nigerians and the global community that this government is fighting corruption frontally,” pointing to free and fair election as a prerequisite for a fight against corruption as he cited Anambra, Edo and Ondo governatorial elections for examples.

Jonathan’s words: “We have dealt with political corruption, the corruption in fertiliser procurement and corruption in the oil  industry. There has never been a time corruption in the oil industry has been attacked in all fronts. The effort this government has put in fighting corruption, I don’t think any other person has done that.”

There were some inconsiscies in Jonathan’s pronouncements on wealth creation and poverty reduction saying he did not promise to reduce poverty rather he wanted to create wealth. The All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) took him up on this describing this latest shift as “a clear political equivocation which is patently illiterate at best and self-indicting at worst.”

In a statement by ANPP publicity secretary, Emma Eneukwu, it added:

“Nigerians are now left to wonder who Mr. President had set out to empower all along. This is because for sure, creating wealth might actually be a metaphor for putting more money into the hands of  his already rich party members and cronies, while leaving the poor of the nation in the hands of chance.”

On poor ranking of Nigerian Universities whereby University of Ibadan once ranked as fourth in the Commonwealth has now slipped to 34th in Africa, President Jonathan bemoaned the drastic drop, wondering how this came about and that efforts are being made to restore the lost glory of our universities. He said government was studying the report on the rot of the universities characterised by all types of corruption and abuses which would be looked into and remedies found. But a University of Lagos lecturer (prefers anonymity) blamed government neglect and inadequate funding of the University system for falling standard.

Roads also were among issues which the president promised to fix especially the Lagos-Ibadan expressway which has become slaughter slab, describing it as one of the busiest highways in the country.

A day after he expressed dismay over the unsatisfactory performance of the contractor concessionaire – the federal government  revoked  the contract bringing sigh of relief to people who used the road.

And when some one twitted that any president who can fix the Shagamu-Benin road will be the best president ever in Nigeria.

Jonathan was quick to contend that should the road be put right by him then he ‘ll be the best president.  The bottom line is the fact that our road system across the country has virtually collapsed and we need a messiah to fix the roads and stop the carnage going on daily.

Anxieties of the people remained feverish as they are yet to be convinced that Jonathan can effectively deliver on his promises.

Source: Vanguard

OPINION

All may truly not be well between former President, Olusegun Obasanjo and the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan. No one says the things he said about GEJ at a recent public forum in Warri unless there is a war (cold or hot) between them.

He basically called Jonathan a "weak" leader. More than that, he called himself a "strong" president while he was in power. He justified it by recalling how he sent soldiers to level Odi in Bayelsa State when nineteen security troops were murdered by armed militants.

He also blamed Nigerians for electing GEJ, saying that without their votes Jonathan would not be in power. I want to look into these two issues because as a chronicler of Nigeria's current affairs (which become history as time goes on) I am familiar with them.

I am also very familiar with Obasanjo's place in Nigeria's history and his never-ending efforts to whitewash his records as a two-time leader of this country while putting others who have occupied that position in bad light.

The only leader of Nigeria (both serving and erstwhile) that Obasanjo speaks of in glowing terms is the late General Murtala Mohammed.

Mohammed probably earned that special place in Obasanjo's heart because his death made Obasanjo a head of state. Add Abdulsalami Abubakar. He released OBJ from prison, pardoned him, and made him an elected president.

GEJ is not the first leader Obasanjo is bad-mouthing while in office. In fact, Gen. Sani Abacha nearly sent him to a firing squad for his busy-body activities interpreted as "concealment" of coup plot in 1995.

We must not allow Obasanjo to twist our history. We know how GEJ emerged as president of Nigeria. He was imposed on the nation by Obasanjo. There was no way GEJ would have been president if Obasanjo had allowed Nigerians to choose. Jonathan would probably be serving out his second term in office as Governor of Bayelsa State.

Even that would have been a gift by Obasanjo who got Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha impeached "for corruption", though political pundits said the real reason was Alams' support for Obasanjo's Vice President, Atiku Abubakar with whom OBJ was locked in mortal political combat.

If Obasanjo had allowed Nigerians to pick, they would have had to choose between Dr. Peter Odili (who had emerged as the front contender for the People's Democratic Party (PDP) flag and All Nigerian People's Party's (ANPP) candidate, Gen. Buhari.

Obasanjo personally hand-picked terminally ailing Katsina Governor, Yar' Adua, and dovish Bayelsa Governor, GEJ. He brought them to Aso Villa and paraded them before television cameras as the presidential candidate and running mate of the PDP.

The do-or-die 'candidates'

Not only that, he announced to his party and the nation that the election of his successor was for him a do-or-die affair. He campaigned fanatically for Yar'Adua/Jonathan and got them elected.

A few months down the line he was on the streets denigrating Yar'Adua but he was not brazen about it as he is with GEJ. Yar' Adua had reversed some of the give-away privatisation exercises from which OBJ and his acolytes had sumptuously benefited.

When Yar'Adua's recovery became hopeless, OBJ started the whispering that GEJ should be empowered as full President. OBJ was one of the first to urge Jonathan to run for president as from June 2010. He was part of GEJ's campaigns until he was elected in April 2011.

Nigeria's presidency is one of the most powerful offices in the world in that it (rather than the people) decides who occupies the highest office in the land (and other high offices). It was that power that made the emergence of Obasanjo, Yar'Adua and GEJ possible.

It is that power that will make Jonathan president for a second term in 2015, unless a major shift of paradigm in the political behaviour of Nigerians takes place. For now, the Nigerian people only queue up to confirm what the presidency has already worked out.

OBJ's tongue in cheek

It is one of Obasanjo's classical hypocrisies to put the blame of GEJ's election on the Nigerian electorate. He knows he is not speaking the whole truth. That is Obasanjo the only saint in action.

But on the issue of President Jonathan mismanaging the Boko Haram uprising, I agree. Lack of decisive action allowed a rag-tag band of gunmen to balloon to a full-fledged terrorist organisation able to assemble explosives and carry out suicide bombings. Obasanjo and Yar' Adua as presidents gave people reasons to fear them. Even on his sick bed, Yar' Adua's aura hung over Abuja and the nation, same as the dead body of Josef Stalin hung over the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) for months before it was officially announced. Obasanjo and Yar'Adua made power look truly powerful. Yar'Adua made northern hotheads, such as Nasir el Rufai and Nuhu Ribadu to stay away from Nigeria out of fear.

But as soon as he died they came back. El Rufai took up a newspaper column and every week calls GEJ a weak and incompetent leader. Ribadu drifted to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and ran for president against GEJ. He was brought in to audit the oil industry and somehow he ended up messing up the president with a leakage of his committee's report. It is not just Jonathan's foes that have portrayed him as "weak". He himself has made it clear that he was no "Pharaoh" or "general".

This perception of him as leader who cannot hurt a fly emboldened disgruntled power brokers from the north to offer support to terrorists and enabled them to grow.

Today, we hear of "dialogue" between the Federal government and terrorists. We also hear some of them "unjustly" handled will be financially compensated!

We hear so many things that under Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Abacha, OBJ and Yar'Adua were simply unthinkable. I wonder how GEJ feels when people say these things about him.