In
a paper titled, “Nigeria in 2014: Facts Versus Fiction”, written by the Special
Assistant to the President, New Media, Mr. Reno Omokri, the presidency
described the opposition and its leadership as a bunch of “hypocrites” who
would stop at nothing to “secure political power by whatever means necessary”.
Omokri
recalled that on December 18, 2013, several newspapers had carried the
statement from APC which called on President Goodluck Jonathan to respond to
former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter on the grounds that the allegations
contained in the letter warranted a response.
However,
he expressed surprise that after the president did exactly what the APC had
recommended, it changed its tune and on December 26, the party berated
Jonathan’s response to Obasanjo’s letter.
According
to the presidential aide, the example above showed that APC stood for nothing
and was only against action or utterance of the president.
In
another instance, he said: “Senator Bola Tinubu had been one of the most
vociferous champions for the convocation of a National Conference. He had
championed this cause for years and many had come to think of the idea as his
pet project.
“At
the first Anthony Enahoro Memorial Lecture in Benin City, Edo State which held
on November 24, 2011, Bola Tinubu had said ‘I submit to you today that because
of the multiple issues surrounding our skewed federalism and constitutional
flaws, the Nigerian nation is weak...
‘The
21-member Presidential Committee on the Review of Outstanding Constitutional
Issues (PCROCI) recently set up by President Goodluck Jonathan falls short. It
is a backdoor approach to the issue of national conference. In memory of Chief
Enahoro we must convoke a national conference.’
“But
when on October 1, 2013, President Jonathan listened to the cries of Nigerians
and decided to convoke the very National Conference that Bola Tinubu advocated,
the Asiwaju made a characteristic 360 degree turn and went on attack mode
saying on October 6, 2013: ‘The national conference is by whom, for whom, and
at what stage? How many levels of deception? I see a contradiction. I see
diversion. I see deception, lack of honesty and integrity’.”
Another
instance pointed out by Omokri was Tinubu’s irreconcilable flip-flop as far of
Obasanjo was concerned, stating: “On March 25, 2013, after a birthday party
that was reported in the media to have cost N1 billion, Bola Tinubu gave an
interview to The Sun Newspaper and said,
‘There
are so many news items that are seriously more newsworthy than to be looking
for Obasanjo’s congratulatory messages in the newspaper. A man who had great
opportunity to put Nigeria on the right path and failed to do so; failed to do
even the Ota road, not Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
‘What
am I celebrating about him? That’s the truth. He deceptively dealt with the
country and he handed over to a man who knew he was ill. Obasanjo is a leader
that could not find another successor capable of driving through his vision for
the country'."
Omokri,
in the article, expressed dismay when nine months later on December 22, 2013,
the same Tinubu was at Obasanjo's residence in Ota, Ogun State, and told the
former president they (APC) had resolved and was determined to rescue Nigeria
and wanted him as their “navigator”.
The
presidential aide said it was glaring to any objective minds that the APC is a
party without ideology, and a vision for Nigeria cobbled together by people
without scruples who would be willing to work with anybody no matter how odious
as long as that person has a grudge against the president.
“This
is why they cannot argue with facts and figures against President Jonathan and
must therefore conjure up lies, innuendo and propaganda.
“The
APC's attention is focused on the short term goal of securing political power
by whatever means necessary. They have no long-term focus of transforming the
lives of Nigerians.
“Who has been to an APC rally, or heard an APC chief or chieftain being interviewed and heard them talk about their plans for the transformation of Nigeria?” he asked.
“Who has been to an APC rally, or heard an APC chief or chieftain being interviewed and heard them talk about their plans for the transformation of Nigeria?” he asked.
He
added that over the past year, as if choreographed, APC leaders have talked
about 2015 in terms of doom, soaking people in blood, civil war, destruction
and such militant language.
“Politicians ought to think in terms of welfare for the people not warfare for them. Talk of blood/war in 2015 is a result of poverty of vision. They have no vision so they feel they must use scare tactics.
“Politicians ought to think in terms of welfare for the people not warfare for them. Talk of blood/war in 2015 is a result of poverty of vision. They have no vision so they feel they must use scare tactics.
“What
makes these yesterday's men bitter enough to call for blood and gore? I posit
that it is the misuse of the opportunities God gave them and the refusal to
accept that it has shifted to others.
“While the president stays on point talking about his vision for the future, their focus is on insulting and disparaging him. A persuasive leader is not weak and a coercive leader is not strong. Anyone can compel obedience by force but only the strong get it by non-violent persuasion,” Omokri argued.
“While the president stays on point talking about his vision for the future, their focus is on insulting and disparaging him. A persuasive leader is not weak and a coercive leader is not strong. Anyone can compel obedience by force but only the strong get it by non-violent persuasion,” Omokri argued.
He
maintained that the Jonathan presidency was run on ideas because at the helm is
a Ph.D leader who has voiced out severally that he believes in transforming
lives rather than conforming to the status quo.
“Ideas
are the building blocks of the Transformation Agenda. Ideas lead to cooperation
thus expanding our sense of what is possible. Insults lead to isolation thus
limiting our sense of what's possible. This is the basic difference between
President Jonathan and the current opposition,” he said.
The
presidential aide went further to do a comparative analysis of the accomplishment
of the Jonathan administration with that of the APC leadership, using internet
websites to separate fact from fiction.
He
said under Jonathan, Nigeria's economy has grown to become the largest
economy in Africa (tinyurl.com/pbbld8r).
•
In 2009, Nigeria's per capita income was $1091. Today it is $1,721, an increase
of almost 70% (tinyurl.com/y5tfwwd).
•
In 2007, average life expectancy in Nigeria was 47 years. Today, it is 52 years
(tinyurl.com/yyl5xy2).
•
In 2010, inflation in Nigeria was 15.60%. Today, it is 7.0%
(tinyurl.com/6pyhylf).
• In 2007, the maternal mortality rate was 750 per 100,000 births. Today, it is 580 (tinyurl.com/lfr4jjb).
• In 2007, the maternal mortality rate was 750 per 100,000 births. Today, it is 580 (tinyurl.com/lfr4jjb).
Omokri
further highlighted the promises kept by the president, which comprised the
privatisation of the power sector; establishment of an international airport in
the South-east; revival of the railways; construction of one federal university
in 12 states of the federation that previously had none; construction of 123
Almajiri model schools with Malam’s quarters, hostels, Qu’ranic recitation
halls and science laboratories, with 277 more in the pipeline; repair of
federal highways; and the construction of 389 health centres nationwide, as
well as national cancer screening centres.
In
addition, he made reference to the overhaul of the sports sector, which he said
led to the country’s victory at the African Cup of Nations, World Under-17
Championship and the country’s qualification for the World Cup; the drop in the
food import bill through the revival of agriculture and agro-allied businesses;
creation of three million jobs through the agriculture value chain; and
improvement in education as evidenced by the increase to 70 per cent in the
number of students with five credits in WASSCE in 2013.
Tags
Politics
Congrats.yeye people .good morning raphael and victor am u guys have not read this well am xpectin ur comment
ReplyDeleteU will not see them talking dis time. We are talking about facts and figures not insults or lies or propAganda or What ve u.
ReplyDeleteOne of the health care centre is in my town. Enugu airport is now international at least my igbo bros will concur with dat.
Men, dis jonathan is a blessing to those dat believe and a curse to those that don't believe.
Infact I recorded 25% growth in my business last year bcos of subsidy removal.
Well apc can only fool the misinformed masses but I tell u, they won't succeed.
Finally, jona my man, pls re-contest and let ur enemies be scattered.
Ralphael and his likes are confused and desperate like their Leaders Buhari, Tinubu and Co.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 10:51 , God bless you for recognizing the truth. If APC are bunch of desperadoes ,then PDP are bunch of un repented criminals that has taken this belove country of ours backward since their 15 yrs of pseudo leadership . They are aware that their end is imminent and their current disposition is a manifestation of a drowning party led by a colossal failure from Utuoke. Shame.
ReplyDeleteIT ONLY AN EMPTY GALLON THAT WILL CONTINUE MAKING NOISE. WHAT I KNOW IS YOU CANN'T CREDIT YOUSELF.
ReplyDeleteVictory ofuchi, if PDP is made up of bunch of unrepented criminals, why did the founding fathers of APC pay a visit to OBJ, why are they accepting the so called criminals who have defected into their fold, abeg shine ur brain
ReplyDeleteTruth is always bitter.
ReplyDeleteTell d useless APC!!!!!!.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous 3:44 , APC chieftains visited Obasanjo because he imposed this Badluck on Nigerians and has the capacity to remove him when his tenure expires. Obasanjo owes Nigerians that duty , which he must do.
ReplyDeleteEfulefu- U and Obasanjo will be Disappointed come 2015.
DeletePDP killed Nigeria so poverty rate is increasing speedly
ReplyDeleteIt is d same killers that have moved 2 APC so u will be hungry d more if they succeed. U guys are too daft 2 understand what is happening. Jonathan for 2015 wether they like it or not. As u continue in ur ignorance and go hungry d more.
Delete