A statement by Reuben Abati, the presidential spokesman, accused Buhari of “reckless, baseless and unsupportable charges” made against the Jonathan administration, saying his manifesto lacks originality. “All that General Buhari promises to do are already being done by the Jonathan Administration to the acclaim of ordinary Nigerians and there is no evidence before Nigerians that the APC leader and his acolytes can do them better,” he declared.
The Goodluck Jonathan presidency today attacked General Muhammadu Buhari over statements he made yesterday when he entered the presidential race, accusing the former Head of State of being afraid to face Mr. Jonathan in “an honest, issues-driven” contest.
The General yesterday formally declared he would run, making him a candidate in the primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Mr. Jonathan, although endorsed by his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has yet to confirm he will.
A statement by Reuben Abati, the presidential spokesman, accused Buhari of “reckless, baseless and unsupportable charges” made against the Jonathan administration, saying his manifesto lacks originality.
“All that General Buhari promises to do are already being done by the Jonathan Administration to the acclaim of ordinary Nigerians and there is no evidence before Nigerians that the APC leader and his acolytes can do them better,” he declared.
Mr. Abati’s statement echoes a similar one issued by the PDP yesterday following Buhari’s declaration, indicating that even though the General is only a candidate for the APC’s primaries at this point, the presidency is wary of his potential.
The statement said: “The falsity of General Buhari’s anti-Jonathan and anti-PDP claims will be obvious to knowledgeable Nigerians and friends of the country, but for the benefit of others we will like to affirm that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in his charge that ‘the last 16 years of PDP Government has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria” or that “the economy continues to deteriorate’.”
The statement, which was evidently positioned to be aggressive and dismissive, curiously avoided the subject of corruption and the kidnapped Chibok girls, both of which are certain to feature as major campaign minefields for Mr. Jonathan.
Outlining his platform yesterday, Buhari said he would tackle corruption, describing it as becoming blatant and widespread.
“The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption,” he said, and then using words from Mr. Jonathan’s mouth, “Nigeria is a country where stealing is not corruption.”
Text of the press statement:
STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT
CONDUCT YOUR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN WITH GREATER REGARD FOR THE TRUTH – PRESIDENT JONATHAN TELLS BUHARI
We have noted with disappointment and regret, the reckless, baseless and unsupportable charges made against the Jonathan Administration yesterday by a supposed elder statesman, General Muhammadu Buhari.
We wholly reject the allegations made by General Buhari against the Jonathan Administration at yesterday’s declaration of his intention to contest the 2015 presidential elections as an irresponsible denigration of President Goodluck EbeleJonathan’s sincere efforts, over the past four years, to positively transform Nigeria.
It reflects very badly on the character of the political opposition we now have in Nigeria, that a political leader of General Buhari’sstature will deliberately make such false and uncharitable comments about the elected leadership of his country, merely for personal and sectional political gain.
The falsity of General Buhari’s anti-Jonathan and anti-PDP claims will be obvious to knowledgeable Nigerians and friends of the country, but for the benefit of others we will like to affirm that there is absolutely no truth whatsoever in his charge that “the last 16 years of PDP Government has witnessed a decline in all critical sectors of life in Nigeria” or that “the economy continues to deteriorate”.
Statistics and rankings from the National Bureau of Statistics, the Central Bank of Nigeria, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and other international economic agencies give the lie to General Buhari’s claims on the state of the Nigerian economy.
As is well known, available figures, statistics and ratings show that the Nigerian economy has consistently maintained an unprecedented growth rate of 6-7% under the Jonathan administration. They also show that the Nigerian economy is now the leading economy in Africa and the 26thlargest in the world with a gross domestic product of over $500 billion per annum.
Also contrary to General Buhari’s assertion yesterday, Nigeria’s agricultural sector is thriving under the reforms being implemented by the Jonathan administration as current production figures show and neither manufacturing nor commerce is “down” as the APC presidential aspirant alleged.
His most uncharitable and inexcusable accusation against the present administration was that election rigging continues to thrive in Nigeria.
We trust that all patriotic, objective and non-partisan Nigerians will reject that allegation knowing it to be invalid and they will have the evidence of the progressively freer, fairer and ever more credible elections conducted under the Jonathan administration to support their position.
Despite the other false accusations General Buhari made against the President who he clearly fears to take on in an honest, issues-driven presidential election contest, President Jonathan will continue to carry forward his transformation agenda in the power sector and other areas.
The President will not be discouraged or deterred from his objective of repositioning Nigeria for accelerated and inclusive socio-economic development by the partisan and jaundiced views of power seekers like General Buhari who cannot see the obvious results of the current administration’s efforts through their blinkered eyes.
We also draw the attention of Nigerians to the total lack of originality in the hackneyed manifesto offered to Nigerians yesterday by the APC Presidential aspirant.
All that General Buhari promises to do are already being done by the Jonathan Administration to the acclaim of ordinary Nigerians and there is no evidence before Nigerians that the APC leader and his acolytes can do them better.
The retired General is free to renege on his well-publicized pledge not to seek elective office as he has done, but we urge him to conduct his presidential campaign with greater regard for the truth.
We also urge him to eschew unbecoming false accusations against others like a true elder statesman and to focus his campaign on more original ideas for the promotion of peace, stability, unity and progress in our beloved nation.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
October 16, 2014