Goodluck Jonathan on Sunday urged the Federal Government to stop what
they called media war against them.
While stating that the Jonathan administration did its best for the
country, the former ministers decried what they referred to as a
"concerted effort" to ridicule them.
In response, however, the government reaffirmed its decision to pursue
its anti-graft war to a logical conclusion but pledged to be fair to
all.
The statement, issued by former Minister of National Planning, Dr
Abubakar O. Suleiman, "For and on behalf of: Ministers under the
Jonathan Administration," read:
"We, the Ministers who served under the President Goodluck Ebele
Jonathan administration, have watched with increasing alarm and
concern the concerted effort by the Buhari administration and members
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to condemn, ridicule and
undermine the efforts of that administration, in addition to impugning
the integrity of its individual members.
"While we concede that every administration has the right to chart its
own path as it deems fit, we nevertheless consider the vilification of
the Jonathan administration, to be ill-intentioned, unduly partisan,
and in bad faith.
The effort that has been made to portray each and every member of the
Jonathan administration as corrupt and irresponsible, in an
orchestrated and vicious trial by media, has created a lynch mentality
that discredits our honest contributions to the growth and development
of our beloved nation.
"We are proud to have served Nigeria and we boldly affirm that we did
so diligently and to the best of our abilities. The improvements that
have been noticed today in the power sector, in national security and
in social services and other sectors did not occur overnight. They are
products of solid foundations laid by the same Jonathan
administration.
"Contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public
believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption,
rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule
of law and due process. For the benefit of those who may have
forgotten so soon, it was the Jonathan administration that got rid of
the fraud in fertilizer subsidies, which had plagued the country for
decades. This helped to unleash a revolution in agricultural
production and productivity.
"It was also the Jonathan administration that supported the
institutional development of strong systems and mechanisms to curb
corruption in the public service and plug revenue leakages. These
included the development of the Government Integrated Financial
Management Platform, The Single Treasury Account (TSA), and the
Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS), in
addition to the biometric registration of civil servants and
pensioners which saved the country over N100 billion paid to ghost
workers and ghost pensioners.
"To ensure greater transparency and integrity in the oil and gas
sector, the Jonathan administration ordered investigations and put
mechanisms in place to check the theft of Nigeria's crude oil. It was
also under the Jonathan administration that a Nigerian Content policy
was introduced, which opened up that sector to Nigerians in a manner
that was not previously the case. It was also the Jonathan
administration that mobilized and secured the support of our
neighbouring countries to ensure a robust multinational response to
the menace of terrorism and insurgency, resulting in notable
advancements in the fight against terror. President Jonathan
personally initiated the collaboration that led to these advancements
and ensured that Nigeria provided the needed financial support for the
Multinational Joint Task Force.
"It was the Jonathan administration that repaired and rehabilitated
over 25, 000 kilometres of our nation's roads. Nigeria also became a
profitable and preferred investment-friendly destination. It was under
President Jonathan, for example, that Nigeria's electric power sector
became more competitive and attractive to local and foreign
investments.
"The same administration promoted the rule of law, free speech,
fundamental human rights, and a robust freedom of information regime.
Women's rights to participate in public life and the Federal Character
principle as well as other Constitutional principles were also
respected. In every respect, our administration promoted inclusive
governance and encouraged all stakeholders including the private
sector to play key roles in the transformation of Nigeria.
It should also not be forgotten that the Jonathan administration
strengthened electoral institutions and created a peaceful environment
for democracy to thrive. On this score, it is sad and ironic that the
chief beneficiaries of that same legacy are the most vociferous today
in condemning President Jonathan and his team.
"Perhaps the new administration and the APC would be sincere enough to
publish the details of the hand over notes they received.
"In addition, the Buhari administration should be fair enough to
acknowledge the good works of the Jonathan administration. No
administration can be either completely bad or completely good.
"President Jonathan's achievements in moving this country to greater
heights deserve to be duly acknowledged. We urge President Muhammadu
Buhari to build on these achievements.
"We also urge him to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a
fair and non-partisan manner, in line with due process, and not as a
political witch-hunt.
The various lies and fabrications being peddled by some self-appointed
spokespersons of the administration may entertain the unwary, but such
sensationalism may achieve the unintended effect of de-marketing our
country within the international community. All such persons playing
to the gallery for whatever gains should be called to order. The
name-calling of members of the Jonathan administration and the trial
by news media should also stop.
"We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this
must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all
Nigerians equally and with the fear of God.
"We have reserved our comment until now, in the fervent hope that once
the euphoria that may have inspired the various attacks on the past
administration wears off, reason will prevail. But we are constrained
to speak up in defence of the legacy of the Jonathan administration,
and shall do so again, for as long as those who are determined to
rubbish that legacy, are unrelenting in their usual deployment of
blackmail, persecution, and similar tactics."
In response, the Presidency described the former ministers as the
country's latest trade union formation, and urged its members to do a
bit of self-reflection on the sort of government they handed to
President Buhari.
According to the Presidency, such a reflection would help them to
determine for themselves if it would have been right for any incoming
government, not just this one. to ignore the issue of the brazen theft
of public assets, perhaps the first of its kind we have ever seen in
this country.
A statement by Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the
President on Media and Publicity said the earlier statements made in
this regard that there was no witch hunt or malice against anyone in
the pursuit of the county's stolen assets still stand .
It said: "This war against corruption knows no friend nor foe. There
is no intention to deny anyone of their good name where they are
entitled to it and that President Buhari reserves the highest regards
for the country's former leaders including Dr Jonathan Goodluck who he
continues to praise to the high heavens for the way and manner in
which he accepted defeat in the last election.
"That singular action remains a feat that has earned the former
president and Nigeria as country befitting commendations all over the
world, the latest coming from Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of
the United Nations who visited a week ago.
"For the purpose of emphasis, the issue of fighting corruption by
President Buhari is non-negotiable.
It is
sine qua non to the overall reconstruction of the economy and social
systems which suffered destruction and severe denigration under the
last administration."
The statement added: "President Buhari would not be deterred or
blackmailed into retreat and surrender.
"No one in the PDP can accuse President Buhari of undermining the
economy when all they handed over to him was at best, a tottering
economy hobbled by corruption and the absence of due process.
"Things have become worsened by the continuing fall of oil prices,
which is expected to fall even further with the imminent full return
of Iran to the market.
"All he has been doing while around is to put things together,
organizing to defeat Boko Haram, paying outstanding salaries, cleaning
up the mess left behind, improving security and restoring our
relationships with neighbors and the world.
"So what are former ministers afraid of in these things? Have they
become a new trade union?
"Let this collection of ex-VIPs allow the President the peace he needs
to handle the reconstruction of the economy and the nation in a manner
that most serves Nigeria's best interests."
According to the statement by Shehu also President Buhari did not need
those types of distraction presented by the so-called association of
former ministers.
-DailyTimes
No comments:
Post a Comment