Thursday, May 28, 2015

PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S HAND OVER NOTES TO PRESIDENT-ELECT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

REMARKS BY
HIS EXCELLENCY, PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCFR,
ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF HAND OVER NOTES
TO THE PRESIDENT-ELECT,
MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR
THURSDAY, 28TH MAY, 2015
PROTOCOLS
1.     I welcome you all to this occasion of the formal presentation of the Hand-over notes of my Administration to the in-coming Administration of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.
2.   This event and tomorrow's inauguration of a new administration are truly historic as it is the first time in the history of our nation that we are witnessing the democratic and orderly transfer of power at the Federal level from one political party to another.
3.   The Hand-over notes which we now present, contain the governance philosophy, strategies, policies, programmes and activities of my Administration for the period - 2011-2015. Also to be found in the notes are the objectives, targets and implementation strategies, achievements and challenges of our key policies, schemes, initiatives as well as the status of commitments and liabilities of the various MDAs.
4.   As we hand over the affairs of the nation, it is appropriate to recall that at inception, in May 2011, we committed ourselves to consolidating national unity through democratization and good governance. Our assessment then, and our firm belief ever since, is that the unity of Nigeria, the security, well-being, greater freedoms and opportunities for all citizens must remain the primary objectives of government.
5.    The Agenda for National Transformation which we did our best to implement consisted of clear and consistent governance strategies, policies, plans, programmes and projects, in all facets of our national life. Emphasis was placed on human and state security, democratization, sound economic management, as well as structural and institutional reforms.
6.   Our foremost concern was the unity of Nigeria.  In keeping with that concern, we engineered a process that began with a review of issues outstanding from previous Constitutional Conferences by the Belgore Committee. After that, we widened political consultations through a National Dialogue that was orchestrated through the Okurounmu Committee. These culminated in the all-inclusive National Conference which unanimously reaffirmed that Nigeria must remain united and indivisible.
7.    The Conference also made resolutions and recommendations for serious constitutional, political and governance reforms, which we have forwarded to the National Assembly for appropriate legislative action. It is our hope that the incoming Government will accord the Report of the National Conference the very high priority that it deserves, as a genuine expression of the will of our people.
8.   The recognition that the starting point for good governance is the legitimacy of the government itself informed our commitment to promoting free and fair elections.
9.   It also motivated innovations in the management and conduct of elections which we undertook. Hopefully, in the years ahead, those innovations will be properly and fully implemented so that Nigerians will be even more assured of the integrity of the electoral system and the legitimacy of any government that it produces.
10.   To strengthen the social contract between the government and the governed, we institutionalized the rule of law as well as the independence of the legislature and the judiciary. We also promoted group and individual freedoms. As a result, there is vast expansion in democratic, social and economic space for all citizens.
11.  Our nation and citizens faced many new challenges over the past four years but the greatest was the vastly increased menace of Boko Haram with their mindless terror, mass killings, utter ruthlessness, kidnapping of innocent children and other unspeakable acts of brutality.
12. We should all remember that Boko Haram's emergence predated our administration going as far back as 2002. The group however became extremely malignant with the killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf in July 2009.
13.   It therefore became an urgent task for us to effectively confront the great threat Boko Haram posed to the security and well-being of our people. To do so, we overhauled and virtually reinvented our security architecture to confront Boko Haram and its insurgency. We re-organized our security apparatus. We re-equipped and fully motivated our forces.
14.   Victory is now in sight and within our reach. However, the cost in blood of citizens and heroes; and the diversion of national treasure from urgent needs for development have been very high. While more than 500 women and children have been rescued from the clutches of Boko Haram thus far by our security forces, it remains my sincere hope and prayer that our beloved daughters from Chibok will soon be reunited with us.
15.  I wish to thank the Nigerian people for their resilience and patience. I also wish to pay very special and personal tribute to all the men and women of our valiant armed forces and security agencies. Their sacrifice and dedication have brought us thus far.
16.  While striving to overcome our national security challenges, we still gave necessary attention to economic development. Our goal was to achieve long-term economic growth and stability, improve the quality and quantum of infrastructure and enhance human capital development.
17.  Our financial system reforms included the Treasury Single Account [TSA] that unified the structure of government accounts for all MDAs and thereby brought order to cash flow management; and Government Integrated Financial Management Information System [GIFMIS] was introduced to plug leakages and waste of resources. The Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System [IPPIS] weeded out 60,450 ghost workers in 359 out of 425 MDAs, yielding N185.4 billionin savings to the Federal government. 
18.   Improved Revenue Mobilization was achieved through improvements in the laws and compliance measures. In 2013 alone, these measures resulted in a 69% rise in Federal tax revenues from N2.8 trillion to N4.8 trillion. Also, Waiver Policy and Trade Facilitation were reformed to create a more rational regime. Our emphasis shifted to granting waivers to specific sectors instead of individual companies and the Sovereign Wealth Fund was established to provide stabilization from external shocks, provide funding for critical infrastructure and savings for future generations.
19.   Our Financial Sector reforms addressed the issues of inefficiencies in the coordination and monitoring of the financial system. Our policies promoted transparency, better risk management, new banking models and payment systems. We established the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria as a resolution mechanism for toxic banking assets. We strengthened banking supervision and enhanced public confidence in Nigerian Bank​.​
20.   Similarly, we undertook innovative reforms for job creation and repositioned the manufacturing, agriculture and housing sectors. Specifically, it was observed that over the years, job creation did not keep pace with economic growth. Thus unemployment, especially amongst the youth was assuming alarming dimensions.
21.  To address this, my administration made job creation a key consideration for all programmes in the Transformation Agenda. Emphasis was also shifted towards empowering youths to become entrepreneurs rather than job seekers, through such initiatives as Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOU-WIN), Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), the SURE-P Technical Vocational Education and Training Programme (TVET) and the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP).
22.  Manufacturing in Nigeria faces many challenges, including poor power supply, high cost of input, high cost of doing business, multiple taxation, poor infrastructure and lack of synergy with the labour market.  To address these problems, we launched several programmes and initiatives including the National Industrial Revolution Plan and a new National Automobile Policy designed to boost domestic car production and expand existing capacity. Since then, five new private vehicle assembly plants have been established.
23.   Agriculture is critical to national survival and yet the sector was besieged with many problems. By year 2010, Nigeria was the second largest importer of food in the world, spending about N1.3 trillion on the importation of fish, rice and sugar alone.
24.   The reforms we introduced in agriculture dramatically increased local production of staple food and saved us vast amounts of money that we would have spent on the importation of food items. 
25.   To address the glaring inadequacy of critical national infrastructure, we focused on the Power Sector, Roads, Railways, Aviation, Ports and Harbours as well as on Water and Sanitation, Information and Communication Technology.
26.       My government introduced the Power Sector Roadmap in 2010.  Since then, we have privatized the generation and distribution aspects in a most transparent process. Obstacles to the private sector investments in power supply were removed and we developed cost effective electricity tariff to make the sector more attractive. It remains our hope that the successor companies to PHCN and also the private sector will step forward with the necessary investment to make the power reform work.
27.        The major challenge in the road sector in Nigeria is the high cost of building roads and it continues to rise. The other challenge is the fact that because of regular use, roads are one of the fastest depreciating assets in developing countries.
28.       To address this, Government has developed the required legal and regulatory framework and created opportunities for Private Public Partnership (PPP) in road construction and maintenance.
29.       From Ore/Benin Road, Lagos/Ibadan Expressway to the Kano/Maiduguri dualisation projects, we made concerted efforts to address age-long problems of delays in construction, design defect, neglect and ineffective maintenance. The construction of the historic Second Niger Bridge has also commenced, and on completion, it will open new and far-reaching opportunities for greater trade and interaction among our people.
30.       In the Aviation Sector, our government developed a Master Plan to institutionalise safety and security, and to develop infrastructure at the airports and local airlines. We embarked on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 22 airports nationwide. Construction work on five new international terminals in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu are also on-going.
31.         There has been a revolution in rail transportation. We rehabilitated the old narrow gauge network and ensured that it has served our people steadily for three years running with new coaches and improved expanded services nationwide.
32.        We are in the construction stages of a new national network for standard gauge speed-train services, with the new rail line segment, from Abuja to Kaduna, successfully completed. In addition, we have initiated the process for the construction of an ultramodern coastal rail line that will run from Lagos to Calabar, with a link to Onitsha.
33.        We have also successfully completed the dredging of River Niger, from Warri in Delta State to Baro in Niger State, and completed construction works for the Onitsha River Port. Other River Ports at Baro, Lokoja and Oguta, are at advanced construction stages. Working with the states and development partners, we have facilitated the process towards the development of two new deep sea ports at Lekki in Lagos, and Ibaka in Akwa Ibom. We have also implemented reforms to streamline the clearing regime in existing ports, increasing cargo turnover time and easing business for all users.
34.         In the oil and gas sector, our local content policy has continued to empower Nigerian companies, particularly in technical and engineering projects. The Gas Revolution Industrial Park in Delta State is unprecedented in the sub​-​sector, and will not only deliver Africa's biggest industrial park, but all the accompanying benefits to local industry and job creation.
35.        We recognized Human Capital as the most important agent for transformational development. Our reforms in this sector focused on Health, Education and Social Development and also on Women and Youth Empowerment and Social Safety Nets.
36.       In the Health sector, the comprehensive National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP) of 2011 laid the foundation for widening access and improving the quality of healthcare with lower infant mortality rates and higher life expectancy for the populace.  Our effective curtailment of the Ebola epidemic has continued to receive worldwide acclaim as an example in prompt and effective national disease management. On our watch, guinea-worm has been eradicated from Nigeria and we are on the verge of wiping out polio entirely.
37.          In the Education sector, our objectives are clear and precise. They emphasise expansion of access and the upgrade of quality. I am proud that we have widened access by establishing 18 more Federal Universities and other specialized polytechnics. We strengthened TETFUND and used it to boldly address the problems of inadequate infrastructure in the existing institutions.
38.         I am particularly proud of our efforts with regards to Early Childhood Education and Out-of-School Children. We provided modern hybrid Almajiri Education Programme in the North, attended to schooling needs of boys in the South-East and ensured the construction of special girls' schools in 13 States of the Federation to improve girl-child education. We expanded opportunities for open and distance learning and provided scholarships at all levels to help improve access to quality education for bright and promising Nigerians.
39.         We have promoted gender-mainstreaming with commensurate priority and opportunities for our womenfolk, beginning with ensuring that not less than 30 per cent of key Federal appointments go to women. Other initiatives that we have taken include: the National Gender Policy, Establishment of Gender Units in Federal MDAs, Women Empowerment Training Programmes, Micro-Credit for Women, Social Safety Net Programmes and the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Scheme.
40.         My Administration has emphasized giving a free hand to our Anti-corruption agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC). We preferred that they mature into strong institutions instead of being the images, the hammer and the anvil of a strong man. We must encourage them to abide by the rule of law and due process instead of resorting to dramatic or illegal actions orchestrated for cheap applause.

41.           Beyond the very impressive records of enhanced convictions by statutory anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC, our other strategy has been to fashion economic policies that deliver higher deterrence and frustrate concealment. In this regard, the Bureau of Public Procurement has played a central role and impacted strongly on the fight against corruption.
42.         In Sports, we have improved our national performance in team and individual events. The disappointment of not qualifying to defend our African Football Championship was cushioned by a decent FIFA World Cup appearance, an Under-17 World Cup win in addition to other victories in other international football tournaments and the Paralympics. We have also encouraged excellence in other sports, apart from football, resulting in exceptional performance in international sporting events, especially in athletics.
43.         Our foreign policy position remains strong. In October 2013, Nigeria was elected as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the second time on our watch. Our country had only served in that capacity thrice before 2011, since independence in 1960. Our Administration also played a leading role in the resolution of security and political challenges in our sub-region, particularly in Niger, Cote D'Ivoire, Mali, Guinea-Bissau and Burkina Faso.
44.         In addition, we increased engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora who contribute so much in remittances to their fatherland. Our Administration successfully encouraged more of them to invest in Nigeria and others to return home and join in the task of nation-building.
45.          In summary, Your Excellency, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, our administration has done its best to intervene robustly and impact positively on key aspects of our national life.
46.         There is no doubt that challenges still abound, but they are surmountable and overwhelming national transformation remains realisable, with continuity, commitment and consistency.
47.          Nigeria is blessed with citizens that will always remain faithful, firmly committed to national unity, accelerated political, social and economic development.
48.         As we hand over the reins of government, I believe that our nation is secure, our democracy is stable, and the future is bright. Let us all work together, and with greater resolve, continue to build a stronger and more prosperous nation.
49.         May God Almighty continue to bless our dear country, Nigeria.
50.         I thank you all.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONDOLES OBASANJO ON PASSING AWAY OF SISTER

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONDOLES OBASANJO ON PASSING AWAY OF SISTER
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan commiserates with the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on the passing away of his younger sister, Madam Adunni Oluniola Eweje-Obasanjo.
The President joins Chief Obasanjo and his family in mourning the late Madam Eweje-Obasanjo who passed away recently at the age of 76.
As they mourn her, President Jonathan urges Chief Obasanjo and his family to be consoled by the knowledge that his late sister lived a worthy and very fulfilled life in the service of her family and community.
The President prays that God will grant Chief Obasanjo and his family the fortitude to bear the loss of Madam Eweje-Obasanjo.
He similarly prays that God will receive Madam Eweje-Obasanjo's soul and grant her eternal rest.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
May 26, 2015

Thursday, May 21, 2015

TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN BY ECOWAS HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT JONATHAN BY
THE AUTHORITY OF ECOWAS HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT PRESENTED AT THE 47TH ORDINARY SESSION, ACCRA, GHANA.
19TH MAY,2015
I am reading this on behalf of the
​Heads of ​State and Government of ECOWAS, at our 47th meeting in Accra.
We pay a vibrant tribute to His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for the determination he demonstrated during his tenure as Head of State and for all the necessary reforms for the development of his Country.
We wish to express our profound gratitude for his outstanding contribution to ​the ​deepening of the integration process in West Africa and the preservation of Peace and Security in our Region, particularly in the qualities he demonstrated as Chairman of ECOWAS and Chairman of the regional contact group on Guinea Bissau and as Co-mediator in the Malian crisis.
Futhermore, we wish to express our warmest congratulations for his exemplary democratic behavior expected of a Statesman that contributed in a decisive way to the maintenance of peace that followed the​declaration​ of results of the presidential election in Nigeria.  We the​​ ECOWAS Heads of state and government hereby express our goodwill to President Goodluck Jonathan for all his future undertakings at the end of his noble mission as the head of his country.
Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State
and Government.
Accra, Ghana
May 19, 2015

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S ADDRESS TO 47TH ECOWAS SESSION IN ACCRA GHANA

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN'S ADDRESS TO THE 47THORDINARY SESSION OF AUTHORITY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF ECOWAS IN ACCRA, GHANA, MAY 19, 2015.
Your Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama,
President of the Republic of Ghana, and Chairman of the
Authority of Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellencies, Brother Heads of State and Government;
Your Excellency, the President of the ECOWAS Commission;
Honourable Ministers;
ECOWAS Commissioners
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;
Mr. Chairman,
      I must start this brief remark by expressing my profound appreciation to you, the Government and People of Ghana for the warm reception accorded me and my delegation since our arrival here in Accra.  The traditionally warm hospitality that has been extended, inspires admiration of the brotherly people of Ghana.  It also certainly underscores the committed, forthright and exemplary leadership that you have personally offered our sub-region since assuming the Chairmanship of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPOINTS HASSAN-BABA NEW SECRETARY, NIGERIAN INVESTMENT PROMOTION COMMISSION

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPOINTS HASSAN-BABA NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, NIGERIAN INVESTMENT PROMOTION COMMISSION

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mrs. Uju Aisha Hassan-Baba, as the new Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).

Mrs. Hassan-Baba takes over from Mrs. Saratu Altine Umar who has been relieved of her appointment as the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive of NIPC with immediate effect.

The new Executive Secretary/Chief Executive had served previously as Director-General, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice in Anambra State and Director, Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.

President Jonathan thanks the out-going Executive Secretary/Chief Executive for her services and wishes her well in her future endeavours.

REUBEN ABATI
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
May 18, 2015  

Monday, May 18, 2015

PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND ECOWAS SUMMIT IN ACCRA


STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN TO ATTEND ECOWAS SUMMIT  IN ACCRA

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan will leave Abuja tomorrow to attend the 47th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government holding in Accra, Ghana.

The summit, which coincides with the 40thanniversary of ECOWAS, will receive reports on the current situation in Burkina Faso and Guinea Bissau and deliberate on issues of democratic consolidation and regional peace and stability.

President Jonathan will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali; House of Representatives Majority Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande and some of his principal aides.

He is expected back in Abuja at the conclusion of the one-day summit.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
May 18, 2015

Friday, May 15, 2015

Right of Reply: Olusegun Adeniyi’s Trip to Babel by Reuben Abati

RIGHT OF REPLY:  BY DR REUBEN ABATI 

There has been an organized and consistent attempt by a certain section of the political class and the Nigerian commentariat to water down the historical impact of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's decision to concede victory to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the final tally in the 2015 Presidential election. Those who have engaged in this enterprise are unkind, if not callous, insincere, if not cruel. 

Their tactics, which range from the dubious to the mischievous, have included a desperate attempt to push the story that President Jonathan would not be the first African leader to concede victory in an election, or that he is certainly not the first Nigerian President to do so. The second claim has been effectively dismissed with historical facts, and as for the former, in a continent where sit-tightism remains a threat to democratic consolidation, and elections in many places are seen as mere rituals for keeping the monarch in power till death do them part, no informed student of the subject will deny the truth that President Jonathan's conduct is definitely an act of statesmanship and heroism, and that President Jonathan deserves all the recognition, the accolades, applause and vastly elevated moral stature that has come with that singular act.

By his very unusual and highly symbolic act of graceful concession, President Jonathan snatched glorious victory from the jaws of seeming defeat. He outsmarted his traducers and became overnight, a hero of global proponents of true democracy in Africa. While many of his opponents seemed obsessed with power at all costs and by all means possible, by calling General Buhari to concede victory, President Jonathan fully lived up to his often stated conviction that the country is more important than individual ambitions and that leadership should be more about sacrifice than the pursuit of self-interest.

Some had threatened that he would end up like Cote d'Ivoire's Laurent Gbagbo. He proved to be a much better student of history. They promised that if his electoral defeat which they had dictated as an inevitability did not come to pass, they will instigate chaos and confusion, form a parallel government and make Nigeria ungovernable, hang it all on his head and send him to the International Criminal Court. In the end, he short-circuited their conspiracy, and showed that he belongs to a global hall of honour, not infamy. 

Ahead of the 2015 Presidential election, many Nigerians had scampered to their ancestral, ethnic safety zones in fear, while the better circumstanced sought safety in self-imposed temporary exile, to watch the homeland from a distance until things settled. One man's act of courage and patriotism changed all that. He defied the same stereotypes which curiously are being reinforced in some African countries, and created a special moment for Nigeria and Africa. This is perhaps the more enduring location of President Jonathan's legacy: his vote for peace and national stability.

 We need to keep repeating this, especially as those who feel cheated and hurt by President Jonathan's winning in losing, seem determined before our very eyes, to revise a less than six-week old narrative. With their first two claims dismissed as vacuous and even irrelevant to the point, they are now recruiting pens and mouths for a new leg of their narrative. The most telling in this regard has been Olusegun Adeniyi's "Inside the PDP Tower of Babel" (THISDAY, May 7, back page). Adeniyi's indicated purpose is to review the politics of the PDP in the context of the ruling party's defeat in the 2015 General elections, but for the most part, he seeks to portray President Jonathan as duplicitous and hypocritical.

Adeniyi's claims and insinuations are informed by a meeting he claimed took place at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, "on Tuesday, 30th March 2015,"- he probably meant Tuesday, 31st March 2015- that historic day when President Jonathan raised the moral level of Nigerian politics. Adeniyi was not at the meeting, so we can safely assume that his entire rendition is based on hearsay. If he insists that he heard his tale on "good authority", then that would be suspicious because Olusegun Adeniyi, who has been in the corridors of power at significant moments, and has written two books on the subject – 'The Last 100 Days of Abacha' (2005) and 'Power, Politics and Death' (2011), ought to know that Nigerian politics is a seething vortex of intrigues, angle-shooting, complex conspiracies and crass opportunism.

Adeniyi may have unwittingly allowed himself to be misled, indeed, he may need to ask his sources playing the role of "Aso Villa spies" for their recorder, and listen more carefully. As it is, his reportage is pure fabrication intended to unjustly discredit the President and promote other vested interests within the polity.

I begin with the third paragraph of his piece: "The atmosphere at the meeting was sombre…", he writes. How can Adeniyi be so sure of the texture of an atmosphere he never experienced? He adds: "…without much preamble, President Jonathan announced: "Gentlemen…" Sorry, Segun. It is not President Jonathan's style to open any meeting at all with the phrase: "Gentlemen…" He is more likely to observe the protocol list. 

What then follows is a long quote, meant to be President Jonathan's charge to the meeting: "…about an hour ago, I called General Buhari to concede and to congratulate him. But I did that not because the PDP lost the election but rather to calm the nation, as many people advised me to do so. Even when I conceded to allow the nation move forward, the information at my disposal is that the election has been massively rigged and INEC is complicit. While I have done my bit as a statesman, I believe the party should put out a strong statement to reject the result and that the PDP will challenge it in court. I think the National Publicity Secretary of the party should do that."

These words which Adeniyi attributes to President Jonathan are not his, nor do they reflect his style or thought process.  He never uttered those words.

In the seventh paragraph, Adeniyi goes ahead to offer what seems to be a verbatim report of conversations between Godswill Akpabio, Liyel Imoke and Adamu Muazu in the privacy of the latter's house! Does he have spies in Muazu's house? If not, then definitely, one of the three gentlemen must be his shameless kiss and tell source? Will he be willing to tell us who this is? No, he won't because he can't. A few paragraphs later, Adeniyi further writes somewhat gleefully that "the President may be meeting his match in Muazu", and states that "it tells a compelling story of its own that Muazu is the 6th PDP Chairman under Jonathan, all within a period of five years."

Adeniyi's bias is undisguised; his construction of a duel is curious, but he would still need to tell the accurate story of the circumstances that led to the exit of the former Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party in the past five years. Contrary to his insinuations, they were not removed by President Jonathan. Okwesilieze Nwodo was removed by a court of law due to local Enugu state politics. Dr Haliru Bello who served as Acting Chairman after him was later appointed Minister of Defence in 2011. Alhaji Abubakar Baraje succeeded Bello also in acting capacity to complete Nwodo's aborted tenure. The story of the exit of Vincent Ogbulafor and Bamanga Tukur equally has nothing to do with the President.

 I can go through the rest of Adeniyi's story-telling to point out other inconsistencies and give-aways. Reading between the lines, it should not be too difficult in the light of recent altercations among PDP chieftains about who did what and who received and disbursed what money during the election campaigns to know the kind of conspiracies at work. In making a story out of the melodrama, however, Olusegun Adeniyi should have resisted taking a trip of his own to Babel.

The meeting that he refers to took place at least five hours after President Jonathan had congratulated General Buhari, "not one hour ago," as he claims. By then, words of admiration and commendation for his gallantry had flooded the airwaves. The President did not need to be persuaded to take that decision. He had always made it clear that his ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. As he himself has pointed out, he took the decision in the interest of national unity, peace and stability and to prevent any form of post-election violence.

The President could see through the traps that had been laid for him; at that moment he was already fully aware of the extent of the network of sabotage and conspiracies, internal and external, contrived and inflicted, that wrong-footed the PDP during the elections. Many party leaders started rushing to the Villa after hearing what the President had done. They were caught unawares. He had absolutely no reason to ask the party to reject the results of the Presidential election. And he never did. He had made up his mind to let it go. By the morning of April 1, he was already packing his things out of the Presidential Villa, satisfied that he had done the right thing by preventing a much predicted ethnic, religious and political violence.

Olusegun Adeniyi therefore got it all wrong. But not done with his trip to Babel, he is also threatening to write a book to be titled: 'Against the Run of Play: How an Incumbent President was Defeated in Nigeria'. He certainly owes us an obligation to declare early enough if that is intended to be a work of fiction and hearsay. The People's Democratic Party which lost power suddenly at the centre, after 16 years in the saddle, is obviously undergoing a post-defeat trauma. Discrediting President Jonathan, with dubious story-telling, should not be part of that crisis.

·        Dr Abati is President Jonathan's Spokesman and Special Adviser, Media and Publicity.

Friday, May 8, 2015

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES CAMERON, CONSERVATIVES ON BRITISH ELECTION VICTORY

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES CAMERON, CONSERVATIVES  ON BRITISH ELECTION VICTORY
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates Prime Minister David Cameron and the Conservative Party of Great Britain on their victory in the country's general elections.
As Prime Minister Cameron and the Conservative Party prepare to form a new British Government backed by the clear majority in Parliament which they won in yesterday's elections, President Jonathan assures them of the best wishes of the Government and people of Nigeria.
The President expects that the historic relationship between Nigeria and Britain which received a significant boost during the past five years of his Presidency in Nigeria and Mr. Cameron's first term in office, will continue to blossom in coming years for the benefit of both countries and their citizens.  
President Jonathan particularly hopes that both countries will continue to strengthen current bilateral cooperation between them in critical areas such as the fight against insurgency and terrorism, education, trade, infrastructure and the achievement of Nigeria's development targets.
The President wishes Prime Minister Cameron a very successful new term in office  and trusts that he will continue to serve the people of Britain and the global community to the best of his immense God-given abilities.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
May 8, 2015

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT GNASSINGBE OF TOGO ON HIS RE-ELECTION

PRESIDENT JONATHAN CONGRATULATES PRESIDENT GNASSINGBÉ OF TOGO ON HIS RE-ELECTION
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan congratulates President Faure Gnassingbé of Togo on his victory in the country's recent presidential election.
Now that President Gnassingbe'e victory at the polls has been confirmed by Togo's Constitutional Court, President Jonathan calls on all the people of Togo to accept the election results in good faith and give maximum support and cooperation to their re-elected leader for peace, stability and progress in their country.  
President Jonathan commends the people of Togo on the successful conduct of the presidential elections and urges any persons who may still have issues with its outcome to comport themselves as true democrats and law-abiding citizens by seeking redress only through recognized legal means.
The President believes that the growing culture of free, fair and credible elections in Africa as witnessed in recent polls in Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo and other countries bodes well for political stability and faster development on the continent.
He therefore urges all African leaders and political actors to continue to do their utmost best to further entrench true democracy and good governance in their countries.
President Jonathan also expects that existing cordial relations between Nigeria and Togo will continue to grow in coming years.
He wishes President Gnassingbe a very successful new term in Office.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
May 6, 2015

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES FOR PEF AND NCDMB

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPOINTS NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES FOR PEF AND NCDMB

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mrs. Asabe Asmau Ahmed as Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF).

Mrs. Ahmed, who is currently the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, takes over from Mrs. Sharon Adefunke Kasali who has been Executive Secretary of  PEF since 2007.

The new PEF Executive Secretary hails from Niger State and holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna, respectively.

She is expected to put her years of experience in public service to good use in re-engineering, repositioning and re-invigorating  PEF for present and future challenges.

President Jonathan has similarly approved the appointment of Mr. Denzil Amagbe Kentebe as Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Management Development Board (NCDMB).

Mr. Kentebe, an architect with years of experience in strategic planning and policy management, takes over from Engineer Ernest Nwapa who has been Executive Secretary of the NCDMB since April 2010.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
May 5, 2015

Friday, May 1, 2015

I WILL HANDOVER A NIGERIA COMPLETELY FREE OF TERRORIST -PRESIDENT JONATHAN ASSURES

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

I  WILL HANDOVER A NIGERIA COMPLETELY FREE OF TERRORIST STRONGHOLDS, PRESIDENT JONATHAN ASSURES

President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan pledged Thursday in Abuja that he will do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territory still held by terrorists and insurgents are totally liberated before May 29, 2015.

Receiving a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya, President Jonathan said that he was determined to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The President said that ongoing military operations in the North-East had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely free from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.

"We can now say two states are completely free from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one Local Government Area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest," he said.

President Jonathan noted that the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists, adding that the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation.

On his decision to concede victory to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, President Jonathan said that elections must be approached from a nationalistic point of view.

"Our elections should be about where Nigeria is going. If Nigeria is moving forward, it is for the good of all Nigerians. My children and grandchildren will live and grow in this country and contribute to it.

"I always tell my colleagues to leave office when their time is up. We are trying to encourage African leaders not to remain in power as kings until death,'' he said.

Mr. Mikuriya commended the President for supporting the reform of the Nigeria Customs Service, noting that other African countries had already started emulating the vision, strategy, adoption to new technology and result- oriented training of officers that were captured in Nigeria's reforms.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
April 30, 2015