Thursday, 17 May 2012
Why President Jonathan Can’t be Trusted
By Chido Onumah
Those who categorise Nigeria as a failed state forget to add that it is equally a full-blown criminal enterprise. It is a reality many people in the country contend with, but few are willing to accept.
For a country acutely deficient in everything that makes a state functional, the communal violence, bomb blasts, kidnappings, and general insecurity in the country, are troubling in more ways than one. And we can only dismiss them at our peril.
We now know, thanks in part to WikiLeaks, why the new imperialism headed by the United States of America, had predicted that Nigeria could disintegrate by 2015. All things considered, it is hard to fault this prognosis. But this article is not about the sordid revelations by WikiLeaks on how Nigeria has been misruled and the characters responsible. It is about the moral leadership that is lacking under President Goodluck Jonathan.
We have about four years to doomsday, presumably. While we wait, perhaps it is helpful to address some fundamental concerns. If we ignore those who were focused on ethnicity or religion, we would still find enough people who a few months ago genuinely believed that Goodluck Jonathan was the man for the job. They were willing to back him even though he was running on the platform of a political party that ought to be on trial for its crimes against Nigerians. They implored us to make a distinction between the man and the party.
A hundred days on into his second stint as president and almost 500 days after he first took up that job, it is clear, even for the cheerleaders of the Jonathan presidency, that there is nothing to cheer about. There is hardly anything to show that President Jonathan appreciates the enormity of the country’s problems or the urgency they require.
In May, during his inaugural speech, President Jonathan promised us a transformation agenda. Considering what the country had gone through and the divisiveness that trailed the April polls, the expectation was that before long there would be concrete effort to address the myriad of problems confronting the country, including corruption, unemployment, poverty, infrastructural deficits, and communal violence. Unfortunately, the only transformation we have witnessed is more violence, sorrow, tears, and blood.
If not for the cronyism that has become the directive principle of state policy in Nigeria, there is no reason the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser should stay a day longer on their jobs. But since he has refused to act, the president should take full responsibility as commander-in-chief.
President Jonathan is a Christian and he must be familiar with the saying that “He that is faithful in small things will also be faithful in great things”. Nowhere is this saying more applicable than in the country’s political leadership. Let’s take the small issue of providing moral leadership. And here, I urge readers to ignore what anybody has said about the president or for that matter the claims about the president by WikiLeaks.
President Jonathan swore to uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has also said repeatedly that his administration will not spare any official whose integrity is called to question. Paragraph 3, Part I of the Third Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria provides that the Code of Conduct Bureau shall have power to:
(a) receive declarations by public officers made under paragraph 12 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to this Constitution;
(b) examine the declarations in accordance with the requirements of the Code of Conduct or any law;
(c) retain custody of such declarations and make them available for inspection by any citizen of Nigeria on such terms and conditions as the National Assembly may prescribe.
Paragraph 11 of Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution provides that:
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, every public officer shall within three months after the coming into force of this Code of Conduct or immediately after taking office and thereafter --
(a) at the end of every four years; and
(b) at the end of his term of office, submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all his properties, assets, and liabilities and those of his unmarried children under the age of eighteen years.
In July, the African Centre for Media & Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) wrote to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) pursuant to the preceding constitutional provisions and Section 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011, (assented to by President Jonathan on May 28, 2011) which states that “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other Act, Law or Regulation, the right of any person to access or request information, whether or not contained in any written form, which is in the custody or possession of any public official, agency or institution howsoever described, is hereby established”.
The request was for the CCB to make available the following: the 2007 asset declaration of President Goodluck Jonathan; the asset declaration of the president after the end of tenure on May 28, 2011; and the current asset declaration of the president when he assumed office on May 29, 2011.
The AFRICMIL submitted the request to CCB not because it wanted to embarrass the president or score “cheap political point”. It did so in good faith because it believes what the country so desperately needs now is courageous and moral leadership. AFRICMIL thought that perhaps if the president had forgotten, the constitution mandates him to declare his assets.
Two months later, there has not been any response from the CCB. The closest to a response we have got was an interview on national television granted by the chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, who told the nation that there was no law that mandates the president to make public his asset declaration or the CCB to make public the asset declaration of public officers.
Any wonder nothing works in Nigeria? How can we progress when you have so-called public officers who prefer to interpret the law in a restrictive sense or how it suits them rather than in the interest of the country?
Surprisingly, in the same interview, Mr. Saba said Nigerians were hampering the work of the CCB by not giving information to the commission. Talk about speaking out of both sides of one’s mouth! Perhaps, Mr. Saba forgot that four years ago, as vice president, President Jonathan made public his asset declaration. Never mind it was done after much pressure from civil society.
Granted that Mr. Saba does not acknowledge the moral obligation of the president to publicly declare his assets, he can’t claim ignorance of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which compels the CCB and other public institutions to make available records at their disposal. In line with the provisions of the FOIA, AFRICMIL plans to seek legal redress against the CCB, but in the meantime we hope the president will do the right thing.
Mr. President, there is something called moral authority and it is sorely needed in public service in Nigeria.
Chido Onumah
conumah@hotmail.com
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SR Have u seen dis Wikileak News????
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 23:21.
WikiLeaks Bombshell: Jonathan Pockets “$100M” Monthly As Bribe; Obasanjo & PDP Cronies Pocketed $60M Bribe Monthy From NNPC–Reports
http://www.republicreport.com/wikileaks-bombshell-jonathan-pockets-100m-...
Cheap minds are the play ground of our oppressors in boko haram
Submitted by Deri (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 22:01.
Even if Buhari is the last person remaining in Nigeria, I will never cast my vote for him. He is an opportunist. The issue here is not about PDP. Far from it. The question I asked was this, what happened when late Gani came out to contest with OBJ? Why did Gani not win even his own state in Ondo? Most of you are nothing but hired thugs-if a man who went jail 33 times under worst conditions than Mandela, is rejected by Nigerians, is it Buhari who sent Fela, Pa Ajasin, and Tai Solarin to jail that I would cast my votes for? Were these ppl Buhari sent to jail corrupt? I would rather sacrifce my life for Jona, regardless of tribal marks on his face, than a sadist like Buhari. Who introduced political Islam into Nigeria. I told my friends as a yound man that the day Nigerians refuse to give their votes to Awo, that will be the end of this great country. Years after his death, are we not still running around in circles and blaming GEJ for our 50yrs woes? Animals
The Truth Is Bitter
Submitted by Damola (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 21:20.
Thank you for the article. It's now obvious to even the dunces who voted him that Jonathan is a fraud and his govt which is built on fraud is not going anywhere.
This guy called Deri must have sold his soul to the devil. It's clear enough that Nigeria's problem is not tribal. So what about the non-Ijaw criminals your hero Jonathan surrounds himself with? Are they enemies or friends? In your tiny eyes, everybody in the world is either a Niger Delta person or not.
For you to be doing PDP's dirty job on this blog, it means u're a loser. Your patrons are out there enjoying their stolen loot while u're crouched behind a keyboard typing rubbish and feeding from the crumbs.
And the fact that u're in a microscopic minority compared to other opinions here proves further that u're a loser. Shio!
Buhariphobia - Who is afraid?
Submitted by KOOL (original) (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 19:56.
Who is afraid of Buhari? I checked through this whole article and not a single mention or reference was made to Buhari by the author. But some little minds cannot respond without bringing Bubari's name into whatever issue raised about GEJ. I would not have bothered if it had just been only Deri as that is what he has been paid to do. Deri has his ready made cut and paste rejoinders to anything against GEJ and that is the reason he makes no sense most of the time.
My worry is about other people joining Deri in this silly game of chasing the shadow rather than the substance. Instead of responding to issues about GEJ's failure or imcompetence, Deri uses the same recycled make up tales about Buhari as a diversionary tactics. I thought Deri remains the only fool on S/R but to see someone else called Obi Moore queuing behind him shows that some people cannot recover from Bubariphobia even though their man GEJ won the election by either hook or crook.
If Jonathan can't be trusted,
Submitted by obi moore (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 17:59.
If Jonathan can't be trusted, Who then can be trusted in Nigeria? or is it Buhari that can be trusted? I dont think so. You people will always find a way to discredit the President, we owe it a duty to support him so that Nigeria can move forward. In recent history I have never seen a President that is so hated like President Jonathan, which most of us understand why, because he came from a region so exploited and deemed as conquered Teritory. If he had come from one of the regions up North, it would be a different story. We have seen some who are not qualified to even rule a local Government rule this country, yet they did not attract the same rebuke and dehumanization being suffered by our President. I pray that God will give him the Wisdom and strength to shame his adversaries. No evil gang up against him will prosper, this country belongs to all of us, President Jonathan quest to transform our dear country must succeed.
Dont do this to yourself or
Submitted by Business Sprinter (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 16:03.
Dont do this to yourself or your business. If you're not yet a member of NigerianPro.com, then you are not yet planning for the future.
The western world worsten Nigeria our problem
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 14:33.
Nigeria is a fail state but we pretend otherwise and western-world also help the them too.Nigeria is like a child in school ,sat for a exam with Mr A,B,C,N etc and after the examination ,then result came out.the Headmaster which is the western-world annouced the result as follows,Mr A got overall mark of 95% out 100 he pass,Mr B 82& pass and Mr C got 32% out of 100 failed,those that passed should go to right hand and those that failed should go to left side and they will said Mr N which is Nigeria should stay in the middly.no fail no pass .so nigeria will see themself as if they pass.so pls the onyibo people should let Nigeria know that they have failed exam so that they will enroll back and study hard may be retake the exam and pass .they should know their result otherwise the will still stand at the middle of those that passed and those that failed for the next one millon yrs to come.shame to Niga
This guy-DERI is a pot-head
Submitted by Joe Z (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 14:31.
This guy DERI is a pot-head. I wonder which planet of the universe is he inhaling his oxygen from? And while he exhale, he comes to SR to stench the whole forum. Sorry but DERI you are clueless and a nuisance!
Why President Jonathan Can’t be Trusted
Submitted by abba (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 12:14.
Nice article.It has pointed out 3 fundamental issues
1.We have about 4 yrs 2 doomsday, presumably... They implored us to make a distinction between the man and the party.
ds clearly shows how so many of our southern brothers that voted for GEJ knew dy were wrong.
2.President Jonathan is a Christian and he must be familiar with the saying that “He that is faithful in small things will also be faithful in great things”.
ds also shows dt our southern brothers that are claiming dt Buhari is going 2 islamise Nigeria did not have a point as dy also rely on dr christian faith for guidance.
3.Mr. President, dr is something calld moral authority and it is sorely needed in public service in Nig.
Thus,Nig needs a moral leaders.dt is simply wat Buhari stands 4.
ds is just 100 days we are already regretting 4 our decision.If we have voted without sentiment we would have been celebrating a dawn of a new era..A corruption free NIgeria..May God help us.
Why President Jonathan Can’t be Trusted
Submitted by Bayo (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 10:29.
Deri, I will advise that as a true Nigerian you should b objective n honest in doing coments. It's is some tribalistic and sentimental approach to things that have led Nigeria to where it is 2day. If GEJ is an honest person, Nigeria should not be slipping the way its going right now. When the means that produces him is corrupt and fraudulent don't expect anything great from that means. Remember how the country resources was plunder in running the election. Rigging and manipulation was the order of the day. One thing that you can not take away from Buhari is that he is an honest man though he might have his mistakeS. He is still an epitome of a Nigerian without greed and covetousness. He is a leader that we should doff our hat for. Though I have not met with him but had good testimonies about his character. The Boko Haram is as a result of systemic failure i.e poverty in the land.
Please see beyond yr tribe when making coments. The problem of this country is stupid followership.
Be Objective and Honest
Submitted by Bayo (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 10:26.
Deri, I will advise that as a true Nigerian you should b objective n honest in doing coments. It's is some tribalistic and sentimental approach to things that have led Nigeria to where it is 2day. If GEJ is an honest person, Nigeria should not be slipping the way its going right now. When the means that produces him is corrupt and fraudulent don't expect anything great from that means. Remember how the country resources was plunder in running the election. Rigging and manipulation was the order of the day. One thing that you can not take away from Buhari is that he is an honest man though he might have his mistake. He is still an epitome of a Nigerian without greed and covetousness. He is a leader that we should doff our hat for. Though I have not met with him but had good testimonies about his character. The Boko Haram is as a result of systemic failure i.e poverty in the land.
Please see beyond yr tribe when making coments. The problem of this country is stupid followership.
PLEASE IGNORE DERI
Submitted by tundemash (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 08:08.
"“So, let us stop all this nonsense about religion, about tribe and so on. Let us organise Nigeria and make it a working entity so that it can fulfil its mission in the world,” " --- Prof. Chinua Achebe at the Garden City Literary Festival
PLEASE IGNORE DERI, do not respond to his ethnic/religious diatribe. He has mortgage the future of his children for crumbs. Lets get organised and be focused on the problem cancer ravaging Nigeria namely OBJ, IBB, GEJ, PDP, DAVID MARK, DANGOTE, OTEDOLA and so on.
Deri is juts a jobless graduate they bought a computer for and to reply and cause division along tribal and religious lines on this forum. For crumbs of the table, he doesn't have the intellect to know his joblessness is caused by same people who bought him this computer. You see how FOOLS are ruling IDIOTS ?
those who reside in glass houses dont throw pebbles
Submitted by awake (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 06:31.
Now that Tinubu no longer enjoys immunity, the case at the Code of Conduct Tribunal has remained more of a riddle than reality. First, it was stories that the trial could not be commenced because of the death of the tribunal chairman, Justice Adebayo Muritala Sanni. Later, the story changed to lack of quorum. We have also been told that two nominees from Benue and Cross Rivers State to bring the tribunal membership to five. But now that the tribunal now has three members and an acting chairman in person of Justice Danladi Umar Yakubu, what is holding the trial of Tinubu and other high profile cases reportedly sent to the tribunal by the Code of Conduct Bureau?Again, a certain Tunji Olowolafe, a notable member of Tinubu’s party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sometimes last year. Why has EFCC has remained silent on this high profile case
In 2003, an Alliance for
Submitted by wafara (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 06:25.
In 2003, an Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship aspirant in Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Olowu deposed to an affidavit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, affirming that Tinubu lied on his age. He stated that on Form CF 001, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu claimed to have been born in Lagos on March 29, 1952 whilst by passport No. A158399 issued by the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 16th February 1988, he claimed to have been born on 29th March, 1954 in Iragbiji, Osun State of Nigeria. While still in government, Tinubu was also accused of having 16 foreign accounts operated with different names, including those of his children and relatives. The operation of a foreign bank account by a public officer is contrary to Section 7 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, Cap 56 Laws of the Federation, 1990 and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the law. The Act is incorporated under Paragraph 18, Part I of the 5th Schedule to the 1999 Constitution
dont salami us
Submitted by Indiana (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 06:23.
Fundamental questions are already being raised on the outcome of the NJC probe, one of which was the rationale behind the non-treatment of the affidavit sworn to by Senator Umaru Dahiru on the relationship between Justice Salami and the former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu. Whereas, the Justice Umaru Abdullai-led panel went ahead to hold that the President of the Court of Appeal committed perjury on the same Sokoto issue. No doubt, the decision of the NJC was simply tailored to cover-up the affected jurists on esprit- de-corps basis. More than the NJC probe on which the last is yet to be heard, however, is the greatest cancer which if not checked, will eat up everything Nigeria soon
The article is like a damaged nuclear reactor
Submitted by Deri (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 06:20.
The article is like a damaged nuclear reactor-it stinks. Emitting radioactive smoke into our lungs. While monstrous looking agents of Buhari like lethal guided missiles, yearn to have their hands again on the oil wells through such sponsored articles. The internal colonizers-from the desert and our local oppressors of yester years, are back with their lies-which often make the PR men of Hitler look like angels.
Yes Deri is a tribalist. How many of you walked the streets of Abuja to protest the hanging of Ken Sarowiwa by Abacha-while Buhari was the head of the PTF under Abacha? Where was Buuharis voice when Abiola was hanged. Now Bakare has found his voice in Buhari-after conducting fake polls for him-to call for the removal of a government that is less than 7 months old. And u call that patriotism in our nascet democracy abi? Its time Nigerians who own the multi billion Naira businesses tell us how they made their money-from the oil wells in the Niger Delta-or shut up!
Re
Submitted by muyiwa (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 05:39.
Damocles,
This ur spirit n mindset is the ONLY solution to Nigeria’s problem.Unfortunately,young generation of Nigerians are already infected with sentiment contacted from old prodigal generation.Tribal sentiment from our Ibo brothers,at chronic stage transform to biafranism.Religious sentiment from our Hausa-fulani folks,at chronic stage transform to jihadism.Hipocritism from our yoruba kit & kins,at chronic stage t
ransform traitorism.
Why fighting for imported daities likes of Jesus,Mohammed?Why not let those daities fight for themselves since they have supernatural powers.
Why defending our looters in the name of tribalism?I'm from Osun State,why d fuck should i defend obasanjo,the most corrupt regime so far??
Damocles,my prayer for u is u shall be relevant in our generation.I hand over Omisore & Isiaka Adeleke.God bless united NIGERIA!!!
Deri, GEJ paid contributor,
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 04:39.
Deri, GEJ paid contributor, leave Buhari out of this. He refused to devalue the Naira, he did not take out any loans and he was repaying our debt.
Why do you think your GEJ had to bribe NJC to drop Salami?
The records speak for themselves.
All the rulers and their sycophants who enslave the populace will not know peace in their life and their descendants for 4 generations by the grace of God. Their portion will be the destruction bestowed on pharoah and co. Amen.
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PDP and The Law.
Submitted by Wähala (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 01:25.
When ugly monster OBJ held sway, he abhored the Constitution and ran the country according to his script. He even unilaterally "sold out" oil rich Bakassi Insel to the French and Cameroonians. He was The Law!
When sickly UMYA was bed ridden in Saudi Arabia, one of his thugs claimed he could "rule from anywhere in the world". That the constitution did not mandate him to be in Nigeria. He too was The Law.
Now we have a cretinous, bombing disaster from the creeks, who has spent over thirteen (13) years loitering around Gov't Houses (with nothing to show for it) telling us thru this clown that nothing in the Constitution mandates the president to declare his assets. He is currently The Law.
Nigeria's Constitution is without doubt the most trampled-on constitution in the whole world. Look at them that are supposed to uphold the constitution: President, CJN and Senate President. The three arms of a very corrupt system of (PDP) government. Shame, nothing but a big shame!
A KNOWN TRIBALIST/SUPPOTER OF EVIL
Submitted by Uzoma (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 00:31.
Deri, it does not surprise me that every contributor here in SR knows you as a tribalist, evil and good-for-nothing idiot. Now that your GEJ has discounted the first 2 years he acted as pesident/substantive president, and is celebrating 100 days in office, he is expected to have led by example as a transformer, which you people claim. Why pointing fingers at Buhari and IBB. We acknowledge they were once military ruler, but now we are in a democratic setting (so to say), we didn't expect Dr Jonathan to act like a zombie. He should have made a difference by showing leadership and setting good example as a transformer, he claims, by declaaring his stolen and ill-gotten assets. This he cannot do because he cannot account for how he acquired them.You can now see how a piece from Chido Onumah has further exposed the vulnerability of you paymaster.
Let my people go, while u remain with yr boko haram!
Submitted by Deri (not verified) on September 15, 2011 - 00:26.
Who will take the "responsibility to protect" Nigerians from this recycled gangsters, working underground for Buhari. To sow the seed of discord in the country? Who will protect the people of the Niger Delta, so that they like Libya, will enjoy a literacy rate above 90 per cent, the lowest infant mortality rate and highest life expectancy of all of Africa, free medical care and education and the highest Human Development Index of any country on the continent throug the introduction of fiscal federalism in the country. Is what we yearn for. Why blame GEJ when medical care disappeared from our table over 40yrs ago. He was not instrumental to our kids paying through the nose to go to school? Western, free-market democracy did not come to Nigeria through GEJ. Our present condition regarding the payment for high prices for even the air we suck into our lungs, where designed and delivered to us by the neo-colonial powers via Buhari, IBB and Abacha over 40yrs ago. Lef Gej alone!
Let him lead by example!!
Submitted by Damocles (not verified) on September 14, 2011 - 23:51.
Your "clown prince" President is the one who desired the office. The office did not come looking for him. Forget about IBB & Buhari. Let the President of the FRN show that he is a LEADER. Lead with declaration of your looted assets.Deri every one knows that Nigeria is full of traitors/looters, east, west south & north, If it were up to me they would all be in "Elysium" (filled with holes). I am from edo, so i donate Igbinedion, anenih, and all other edo looters. Who do u donate for extermination? and try not to be tribal, i know it is against ur DNA!!
Bad belle jam Buhari for Sanusi road
Submitted by Deri (not verified) on September 14, 2011 - 23:12.
If Jonathan did perform his constitutional obligation by declaring how much money he stole from the oil wells in the Niger Delta, why do u still want to compare him with Buhari and IBB who refused to declare their assets at the Oputa panel. What are Nigerians afraid of. The 50 items tied to the 6yr single term palaba? When will we have time to talk about the zones which use to depend on fish yesterday but no longer have to feed her children around the zones that has been feeding the nation for over 50yrs with her resources-we cannot all leave the regions we hail from to work for boko haram at night in Maiduguri-thankfully before the Birts lowered the UNION JACK, and left the shores of Nigeria-they caught a thif bigger than Jona---who was that thief? A poser for Waziri-or was she not old enough to recite the Italian alphabets the catholic priest arrived Nigeria with in 1914?
