by Sunshine Anifowose
Hell is the home of those who see white and calls it green during the era of moral phenomenon, says Danthi Allegieri, a French Scholar and Motivational Speaker.
Fellow Nigerians, please permit me to tell you some lies and let me explicitly say that I am ready to bear the insults and attacks these lies might generate from readers, most especially those rooted in party ideology, norms and beliefs.
The lies are about the comparative character and idiosyncrasy of two Nigerian leaders.
Olusegun Obasanjo, the Owu born former Military-Maximum Dictator turned Civilian Ruler and Otueke born Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, who God currently saddles with the responsibility of distributing dividends of democracy to all Nigerians.
Obasanjo had, in the last 15 months, been going from one public fora to the other, blasting and mesmerizing the personality of President Goodluck Jonathan. Obasanjo had declared and still declaring Jonathan a grossly incompetent and an epidemically corrupt leader while Jonathan had refused to pick up the gauntlet with Obasanjo for reason(s) best known to him.
However, after critically studying the frosty relationship between the two leaders, I wish to declare without any fear of intimidation that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo should stop insulting the common sense of Nigerians with his unnecessary diatribe against President Jonathan because Obasanjo has no moral right whatsoever to be doing what he’s presently doing against the incumbent administration.
For the 8 years Obasanjo ruled Nigeria, he built only one University which was for himself. Bell University, Ota, Ogun State is owned by Olusegun Obasanjo. Today, Jonathan has built 12 Universities for Nigerians and the generation yet unborn. Today, no skyscraper can be traced to Jonathan any where in Nigeria unlike an opposition leader in the South West who had bought 40% of his state resources. Readers, kindly remember that Obasanjo built his library and hilltop in Abeokuta when he was in office. Jonathan, today, via the intervention of TETFUND, has built more than 30 libraries for Nigerians and generations yet unborn.
Obasanjo conducted an election in 2007 that he tagged “do or die.” The winner of the poll, late Umoru Yar’adua, publicly confessed that it was characterised by irregularities. He fought Yar’adua, the Prince of Kastina till his death in 2010 for accepting that Obasanjo un-democratically imposed him on Nigerians. Meanwhile, in 2011, Jonathan conducted an election which was nationally and internationally adjudged to be free, fair and credible.
Furthermore, for 8 years, Obasanjo could not do anything on Lokoja-Abuja road which he awarded without mobilising the contractor. The road is almost completed now. Gory cases of motor accident and robbery has drastically reduced on the road.
Ore-Benin road is now pothole free courtesy of Jonathan’s transformation team. The busiest road in West Africa sub-region, the Lagos-Ibadan express road is now under re-construction and expansion of international dimension.
Akure-Ilesa road is presently under a never-seen-before massive re-construction. Ikorodu-Sagamu road was awarded by Jonathan two weeks ago but majority of the highly compromised Nigerian news medium refused to publicize the contract award of the road. I am also pleased to inform Nigerians that the reconstruction of Ibadan-Oyo express road has been completely done. Second Niger bridge is under construction. Our Airports have been re-fixed. The rail transportation system has been fixed.
Many Nigerians had adjudged Jonathan’s administration to be corrupt! I am going to react to the allegation empirically. The number one anti-corruption organisation in the world is Transparency International. In 2006, Transparency International, under the watchful eyes of Olusegun Obasanjo, rated Nigeria as the second most corrupt country in the world. In 2014, under the leadership of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Transparency International rated Nigeria as the 44th most corrupt country in the world. Now, I ask, who fights corruption more between Obasanjo and Jonathan? Fighting corruption is more than arresting ex-governors today, parade them on television tomorrow and release them next tomorrow.
In terms of unemployment, I want to ask, which job did Obasanjo provide for Nigerians when he held the insignia of power? Apart from the poorly organised National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), which job did Obasanjo gave to Nigerians? Obasanjo destroyed the Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL), sending thousands of Nigerians into labour market. Today, NITEL in on the verge of being re-organised.
I also make bold to say that Obasanjo ruined the National Electricity Power Authority (NEPA). Today, power supply has been privatized and handed to private individuals. Transcorp Hilton, Abuja is said to be owned by Obasanjo, however, today, no establishment can be said to be owned by Jonathan. The 12 new Universities established by Jonathan has employed about 20, 000 Nigerians. YOUWIN has produced more than 1, 000 millionaires in Nigeria.
For the 8 years Obasanjo ruled Nigeria, he only recruited 1,957 Nigerians into the Federal Civil Service. Today, Jonathan’s administration has recruited 4685 graduates into the Federal Civil Service. The Military, Nigeria Civil Defense, Nigeria Police, etc had employed more than 15, 000 under Jonathan’s Presidency. Nigerians should note that unemployment amongst graduates was at 70% in 1984 when General Buhari was the Head of State.
Also, as I write, the Jonathan’s administration has built 127 Almajiri Schools in the north, reducing illiteracy in the region in the process. More than 5000 Nigerian graduates have been sent abroad for post graduate programmes by President Jonathan.
Fellow Nigerians, most especially my fellow Yoruba youths, please I urge you to put aside your religion, ethnic and political interest and say the truth! Who has governed Nigeria better between Jonathan and Obasanjo? Those of you set to vote Buhari because his running mate, Yemi Osinbajo is a Pastor in your church should have a rethink! Those of you set to vote Buhari because he’s from the north should think about ONE NIGERIA because Information from the Federal Ministry of Works has it that Jonathan has constructed more roads in the North than in the Southern Nigeria!
Obasanjo had been blasting President Jonathan over the activities of Terrorists in the North Eastern Nigeria but I wish to ask him (Obasanjo) that despite his military background whether he was able to solve the militancy problem in the Niger/Delta region when he was the President of Nigeria? Please what moral right does a former military dictator who failed woefully to confront militancy have to be blasting President Jonathan over the activities of political terrorists in the Northeastern Nigeria?
President Goodluck Goodluck is not a magician. He is the only President that has governed the nation of Nigeria in line with the rules of law. Despite the incessant attacks and insults on him in the media, he has refused to jail any Journalist, socio-commentators and bloggers. Jonathan has respected the fundamental human rights of Nigerians than any other Leader Nigeria ever had.
The Change Agents have been tested in Lagos State, what they gave us was cosmetic governance. We tested one of them in Ekiti, it ended in 16-0. A change Agent in Osun has refused to pay workers’ salary for 3 months. Same in Oyo State. Edo State civil servants are the worst paid in the country. No Street Light Pole is working in the whole of Rivers State. The National Leader of the Change Agents has bought virtually all that is gold and glitters in Lagos State.
They said PDP has ruined Nigeria, meanwhile, Obasanjo and Atiku, the Chief Navigators of the Change Agents spent 8 out of the 16 years PDP has been governing Nigeria. 26 out of the 31 Governorship Candidates of the Change Agents are former members of the PDP.
Lastly, I wish to advise Obasanjo to start talking like an Elder statesman he calls himself. George Bush would not talk to Obama the way Obasanjo has been talking to Jonathan. Thambo Mbeki would not talk to Jacob Zuma the way Obasanjo has been talking to Jonathan. Gordon Brown would not talk to David Cameroon the way Obasanjo has been talking to Jonathan. Is Obasanjo the only former President in Nigeria? Why always Obasanjo?
Nigerians, think! Think!! Think!!!
Sunshine Anifowose is the Personal Assistant to governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State. You can reach him on [email protected]
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
