JONATHAN’S ''STUPID'' DECISIONS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH ''STUPIDITY''
Please
read before you scream at the headline: Hopefully someday and soon, Nigerians
will come to appreciate the transformational strides of PGEJ aimed at setting
Nigeria on a pedestal of sustainable development - Shedrack Fubara
Incontrovertible
attitudinal evidence suggests the average Nigerian is still ingrained with
autocratic and authoritarian outlook to leadership. Oblivious of the fact that councilors,
Local Government Chairmen, State Assemblymen, Governors, Representatives and
Senators also have huge parts to play in governance; the dividends of democracy
have always been expected from the President alone. That is not desirable for a
followership which should demand accountability from every stratum of
governance and not just fixate on the nation's number one citizen for what
should ordinarily be the duties of an LGA Councilor for instance.
"Unfortunately'',
the structure of governance in a democratic republic shares responsibility
among the three tiers of government and the three arms of government (Executive,
Legislature and Judiciary).
In
the wake of his transitory tenure as President (via acting president)
Jonathan's first set of STUPID decisions was to send emergency aircrafts to
Libya and Egypt for the evacuation of Nigerians trapped in the murderous frenzy
of the Arab Spring which was sweeping over the Middle East and the Arab world.
It is on record that thousands of Nigerian citizens were ferried home from
danger zones. That was STUPID. President Jonathan should have allowed them to
die or become trapped in troublesome climes.
That
should have been a wiser decision according to our ICONIC SAGE, Prof Wole
Soyinka's assertion recently.
Nigerians'
only notable tonic of unity – sports – got another STUPID decision made by
Jonathan to ban our teams from international competitions and rebuild from
scratch our dwindling sports fortunes after woeful performances in both track
and field athletics, and football (soccer). This later culminated in the first
ever SPORTS SUMMIT in Abuja to discuss with stakeholders, our sporting future.
The result of that STUPIDITY got us the elusive Afcon Trophy after 19 years of
docility and non-achievement in that competition (Africa's own World Cup).
Egunje/20
naira note collections by police, through illegal checkpoints, have VISIBLY and
virtually disappeared in Nigeria. One can drive from Calabar to Lagos without
encountering such acts by our policemen, for the first time in 30 years.
Jonathan must have been STUPID to read the riot act to policemen through the
then Acting, now IGP, Abubakar.
For
the first time in 100 years, 6 political parties have governors in Nigeria's
multi-party political geography. LP, APGA, PDP, CPC, ACN and ANPP. Apart from
that, Governors Aregbesola, Fayemi and Mimiko won back their mandates from PDP
governors through the COURTS without interference from Jonathan who was STUPID
enough to allow the opposition parties hold on to states that were PDP under
Obasanjo. Only Lagos State was AC in OBJ's second half of his 8-year
presidency.
In a
nutshell, Jonathan is the first president/ head of state to evacuate Nigerians
from trouble spots overseas by airlifting thousands of stranded citizens back
home.
First
president/ head of state under whose tenure, multi-party democracy blossomed
most: six different political parties have governors in Nigeria: Labour Party,
ACN, PDP, APGA, ANPP, and CPC (please note: all court orders overturned in
favour of opposition parties were all obeyed: Osun, Ekiti, etc).
First
president/ head of state to sign into law the Freedom of Information Act
(FoIA);
First
president or head of state to effectively outlaw toll-collecting, illegal
police checkpoints, in Nigeria.
President
Goodluck Jonathan is also the first president/ head of state to introduce a
National Tax Policy to create a self-sufficient economy that could bring
development to the people.
First
president to pay attention to our international and local airports - Kano
airport upgraded after 57 years, and other airports upgrades in progress, with
some like Benin Airport, commissioned. Kaduna refinery rehabilitated after 15
years.
President
Goodluck Jonathan is the first president to summon the courage and practical
will to unbundle electricity distribution after 52 years. Problems inherited
include (a) Low Capacity Power Generation, (b) Abandoned NIPP Projects, (c)
Decadent State of Power Distribution Administration, (d) Poor Gas Supply
Initiatives, and (e) the inconclusive Power Privatization Plan.
In
just under 2 years, power supply more than doubled after almost 100 years after
amalgamation (met power supply at about 2,200 mw, now hovering between 4,237 mw
and 5,000+ mw due to maintenance work after the completion of Power sector
deregulation), and states have begun electricity distribution. 15 Private
bidders have been presented their certificates for the first time in 100 years.
For
over 2 decades, some of the busiest roads in Africa, located in Nigeria address
the bad state of the Benin-Ore road which was rehabilitated after 20 years,
rejuvenate our comatose railways back to life after 20 years of lull in the
sector, colonial laws under review, states and private investors welcome in the
railways sector.
President
Goodluck Jonathan is also the first to introduce 35% female appointments in
government positions, first in decades to reduce salaries of public servants
and examine the proliferation of different salary structures in the public
service in the federation.
First
to deliver on nine new varsities (increased to 12), to accommodate, the growing
number of admission candidates/population.
First
to promise Almajiri School and the promise kept.
900
million dollars Cocoa exported, as non-oil revenue first time in decades.
11
billion dollars trade surplus first time in decades.
FG
Roads and rural infrastructure taking shape gradually, lots of them neglected
for decades.
Railways
chugging back to life, 48 billion dollars FOREX reserve.
Excess
crude another 9 or 7 billion or so.
Please
note: May 2013 made him 2 years in office.
In
support of Mr. President's Transformation Agenda, the Ministry of Agriculture
and Rural Development's focus is to assure food security, reduce expenditure of
foreign exchange on food imports, diversify the economy, generate foreign
exchange and create jobs.
In a
major departure from past approaches, agriculture is now being treated as a
business, not a development program. The agenda is focused on major policy
reforms to eliminate corruption in the seed and fertilizer sectors, improve the
functioning of market institutions, establish staple crop
Processing
zones to attract private sector into areas of high production to reduce
post-harvest losses, add value to locally produced crops and foster rural
economic growth.
In
addition, the agenda includes improvement in rural infrastructure and access of
farmers to financial services and markets. For the very first time in decades,
Nigeria realized 900 million dollars (about N142bn) from cocoa export in 2012,
after 246,000 hectares of Cocoa farms were rehabilitated. For the first time
ever Nigeria is exporting 1 million metric tonnes of cassava to China, earning
$136 Million in the process.
At
the core of the agricultural transformation agenda are some major policy and
institutional reforms to help sanitize the sector, eliminate corruption and
reposition the sector to better performance, and restore credibility for the
sector before Nigerians and the international community.
A
major accomplishment was ending corruption in the fertilizer sector in the
Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development have for decades procured and distributed fertilizers. The
government system was corrupt, undermined the private sector, and did not
deliver fertilizers to genuine farmers, but to political farmers and the
fertilizers were exported. Only 11% of farmers got the government-distributed
fertilizers due to corruption and rent seeking. This created a bad image for
Nigeria. Within 90 days of appointment as Minister, with strong support of Mr.
President, the corrupt system which has been endemic for over 40 years was
totally dismantled by September 2011. Fertilizers and seeds are now sold by the
companies directly to farmers, not to government. This has eliminated the
middle men and rent seekers from the system.
According
to Orusi Otejiri, here is a chronicle of the consequences of, and some STUPID
decisions made by President:
President
Good luck Jonathan NEVER plays to the gallery, neither does he engage in
governance by drama.
President
Good luck Jonathan is never afraid of bringing into his government technocrats
or persons that are more knowledgeable than himself. He does not feel
threatened by these persons.
He
is focused and firm on what he hopes to achieve.
He
does not appear DESPERATE for political or economic power. He is very
approachable and likeable.
He
is not vindictive. He is always consulting and building consensus to carry
every segment of the country along.
Above
all, he's a listening and very hard working President. Below are some of his
accomplishments:-
2ND
NIGER BRIDGE (ASABA/ONITSHA) AWARDED TO JULIUS BERGER AFTER 50 YEARS
ZUNGERU
POWER PROJECT NIGER STATE AWARDED AFTER 32 YEARS
LAGOS
/IBADAN EXPRESSWAY (OGUN/OYO/LAGOS STATE) AWARDED TO JULIUS BERGER AFTER 35
YEARS
The
revolution taking place in terms of infrastructure reconstruction and
rehabilitation has not been seen anywhere in Africa. These are in the area of
road construction that is taking place massively nationwide. And investing N3
billion naira in Nollywood to boost the entertainment industry.
Signing
of the freedom of information act (FoIA) into law thereby making Nigerians and
the Nigerian media one of the freest in the world and salary increase of 53% in
2010 making the Nigerian worker quite comfortable.
Giving
handsome reward to the super eagles for winning the African cup of nations
after 19 years to further challenge the eagles to aspire higher
Airport
reconstruction and remodeling taking place nationwide. Railway line
reconstruction and rehabilitation with Lagos to Kano completed and functional.
The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri railway line will be coming on stream by year
end.
Seaport
construction and expansion of existing ones. E.g. Warri port Delta State, Baro-
Niger State, Kogi, Calabar, Onne, Owerri, Onitsha etc.
Building
of TEN new power plant simultaneously that will significantly boast power
supply in the country not forgetting the transparent privatization in that
sector without any controversy that will lead to massive investment and power
facility upgrade that will be beneficial to the entire nation.
University
education is now more readily accessible by Nigerians with nine new
universities approved and functional. In addition, billions of naira is being
expended on primary and post primary education to assist the entire states of
the federation. These are in the building of new primary and post primary
school classrooms and also for the acquisition of textbook which has been
distributed to aid learning at this level. Almajiri Schools not excluded.
EDUCATION
TEN
NEW FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES
LOCATIONS----KATSINA,
KANO (POLICE UNIVERSITY WUDIL), ZAMFARA, TARABA, GOMBE, YOBE, KOGI, EKITI,
EBONYI AND BAYELSA STATES.
ALMAGIRI
SCHOOLS
NUMBERS-----295+
LOCATION----NORTHERN
NIGERIA
The
agricultural revolution currently on going in Nigeria is commendable with the
attendant removal of corruption from the acquisition and distribution of
fertilizers. Food security is the security of Nigeria.
President
Good luck Jonathan has today changed the bad attitude and mentality of most Nigerian
politicians and voters. This he has done through the conduct of free and fair
election all over the country. Edo and Ondo states are appetizers, there are
more to come. His Presidency has stabilized the polity and foster integration,
Progress in the image of Nigeria abroad and Progress in emergency management
(Flood control).
With
President Goodluck Jonathan, election in Nigeria will be one of the best in the
world thereby taking away the do or die nature of our politicians and
followers.
Today,
the Boko Haram insurgency has been reduced to occasional ambush tactics thereby
putting them on the back foot.
Other
forms of violent crimes and criminality like kidnappings, armed robberies,
pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering are being tackled frontally and soon
they will be history. Industrialization is gradually taking root thereby
leading to the steady growth of the economy. His government is protecting
Nigerians and Nigeria's business interest and its citizens abroad.
Currently,
the Goodluck Jonathan administration has taken Nigeria from a low income
country to a medium income country thereby making funds for developmental
projects from global financial institutions readily available and attracting
investments in key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
With
Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria now has 50 billion dollars in foreign reserve, one
billion dollar in sovereign wealth fund and billions of dollars in excess crude
account making Nigeria the preferred investment destination in world.
The
refineries are working again.
DECLARING
A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN BORNO, YOBE, AND ADAMAWA STATES WITHOUT TAMPERING WITH
THE DEMOCRATIC STRUCTURES YET ACHIEVING THE DESIRED AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF
SECURITY, PEACE, PROTECTION OF INNOCENT NIGERIANS, STABILITY AND ECONOMIC
GROWTH OF THE REGION AND THE ENTIRE FEDERATION. THE DECLARATION MAKES GOODLUCK
JONATHAN A LEADER, A DEMOCRAT AND A STATEMAN.
PRESIDENT
GOODLUCK JONATHAN, THE BEST PRESIDENT NIGERIA HAS EVER HAD.
Let's
support him to succeed. NO MATTER HOW STUPID HE MAY SEEM TO PROFS. (Wondering
how many Profs are presidents of the most industrialized countries anyway).
POSTSCRIPT:
''Delivering
activity may earn you immediate accolades but nothing lasting will result.
Legacies come when your focus are on delivering results and the hard earned
victory won by the Super Eagles vindicates this. In 2010 President Jonathan
shook up the Nigerian Football Federation and the Super Eagles after their poor
showing at that year's AFCoN, he followed it up by convening a Presidential
Sports Retreat to brainstorm on what went wrong and strategize on how to fix
it. We all saw the result this past Sunday. From the ashes of humiliating
disappointment Nigeria has emerged victorious.
This
is the difference between delivering activity and delivering results. In
delivering activity you are guided by the present but in delivering results you
are guided by your future goals.
It
is this same calm, sure, steady, unhurried and deliberate approach that is
being used to resolve the issues we face in Nigeria. We are moving away from
theatrics to thinking creatively so we can work smarter rather than just
harder.
Take
electricity for example. Rather than rush in, the President thoughtfully came
up with a plan, the Roadmap to Power Sector Reforms, and has kept faith with it
and now steadily and surely Nigeria has been adding new power stations and in
two months’ time the largest ever power plant of the National Integrated Power
Projects will be commissioned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company to
deliver 563 MWs of electricity.
Our
economy itself has been on a steady and upward mobility, averaging an above 6%
GDP increase since 2010 and placing Nigeria as one of the 10 fastest growing
economies in the world.
Various
other initiatives are ongoing in the education sector, roads and railways, the
real sector and what have you. The joy in the face of a suya seller in Lagos
who could finally afford to make the Christmas journey from Lagos to his native
Kano because of the revived railways are a testament of the fact that in the
grand scheme of things it is results that matter not activity. Nigeria needs a
steady, positive and result-oriented hand at the wheel at this time in our
history.
To God be the glory''.
- Oronto Douglas
STUPIDLY
Compiled by - Henry Omoregie
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