Another Look At President Jonathan’s Achievements

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BY NWAFILI ANENE
THE present democratic dispensation is about 14 years old. President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan’s election to the seat of power is symbolic, representing a paradigm shift, a renaissance, a new age, a new Nigeria. The revolution that Nigeria desires is silently taking place. Since the beginning of his administration just about two years ago, the emphasis has been on transformation: transformations of the way government businesses are carried out, attitudinal change, and value orientation.
His administration is characterized by silent revolutionary zeal. There is no noise or media hype of what is going on. President Jonathan has shown the ability to provide solutions to hydra-headed nagging national problems. His rule has touched on all aspects of the economy.
Now, what are those things that the Jonathan administration has achieved? Specifically and verifiable too, are;
• The first President and non-muslim to build Almajiri schools throughout Northern Nigeria. Until now, no government at state and local levels have deemed it fit that these Nigerians deserve rehabilitation.
• He took the courage to unbundle the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. We believe that very soon Nigerians will begin to see the effects of this bold step.

• Restoration of the railway system. The system has been moribund for the past 20 years. Feasibility of three others to open new railway corridors, which will be concessioned to local and foreign investors. Expected to create 10 million new jobs and cause inflow of 200 billion dollars investment into the country. Now, go and see these for yourself:
* Lagos-Kano train service is now fully operation after being moribund for more than 15 years
* Eastern rail line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri
* Zaria/Kaura Namoda rail route
* Abuja to Kaduna 187 kilometre rail line
* Ajaokuta-Warri Standard Gauge Rail line
* Lagos-Ibadan new gauge rail line
• About 90% of 22 airports earmarked for rehabilitation and remodelling completed.
• Agricultural production has increased.
* Eliminating the corruption in the fertilizer distribution system, thereby ending the over forty year old racket and government subsidization of corruption
* The government intervention in rice production and other such initiatives resulted in the creation of more than two million new jobs among rural dwellers
* Cocoa export reached the highest level thereby creating a new set of millionaires. 900 million dollars worth of Cocoa exported, as non-oil revenue first time in decades
* Anticipated annual earnings of $136 million in foreign exchange from cassava which was exported for the first time in 2012 under the Vale Chain Addition programme of the Federal Government.
• Massive rehabilitation of roads throughout the country is ongoing via Subsidy Reinvestment Programme SURE-P. Checkout the following roads
* Abuja-Abaji-Lokoja;
* Benin-Ore-Sagamu dual carriageway;
* Onitsha-Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway;
* Kaduna-Maiduguri dual carriageway;
* East-West Road
* Amongst others
• The SURE-P projects resulted from the partial removal of the subsidy on petroleum products:
* 500 Primary Health Centres (PHC) across the 36 states and FCT of the Federation
* Selection of 125 General Hospitals across the 36 states and the FCT
* Training of Nigerians across the federation on skill acquisition.
* Over 5000 jobs created in the health sector alone.
* Many more in the road maintenance sector.
• National dialogue
* This is a bold step to reinvent Nigeria
* For the first time, the no-go area clause is thrown into the dustbin, creating an atmosphere for Nigerians to sit down to jaw-jaw instead the war-war.
* To allow Nigerians define their own brand of democracy suitable to our diversity
• Upholding democratic tenets
* First President to declare a state of emergency without sacking democratically elected governments
* First President to embrace and brook opposition without the usual coercion using the Federal apparatus
* The most misunderstood, insulted and criticized, yet has remained focused without the usual abuse of office by use of ALL MEANS AVAILABLE.
We hope that this will culminate in a Nigeria where every citizen’s potential would be maximally exploited for the benefit of the country. If you can run, you will be encouraged to run very well; if you can jump, you will be encouraged; whatever you can do, you will be made to do it very well.
President Goodluck Jonathan has shown the road map to good leadership, which is the bane of the Nigeria project. He has consistently shown
• Commitment and respect to the rule of law
• Commitment to conducting free and fair election
• Commitment to participatory approach to resolving national issues
• Commitment to govern within the premise of the constitution of Nigeria
• Commitment to accountability as indicated by the performance contract signed by members of his cabinet and their subsequent presentation of performance card.
Nwafili Anene (PhD) is a team member of Integrity for Leadership and Sustainable Empowerment Initiative.
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