Anti-Corruption Group Berates Jonathan Over Statement On Governors

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Thursday, March 6th, 2014

Kayode Adelowokan, Lagos

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has criticised President Goodluck Jonathan’s comment that state governors who cast aspersion on him and the Federal Government are not helping the development of their states.

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan

The President, who said that the best thing for state governors to do was to take their cue from Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State by ensuring cordial relationship with him and the Federal Government, gave the advice while receiving a delegation of Anambra State indigenes who were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja to thank him for the support he gave to Obi, the outgoing governor of the state.

Reacting to the statement on behalf of the Coalition, its Executive Chairman, Comrade Debo Adeniran, described the President’s statement as unguarded and uncharitable.

He said, “This is one of the most uncharitable statements by President Jonathan and it gives us an access into the mindset of most of our leaders. Criticizing poor government policies is understandable and expected in all democracies in the world. It sounds more like a threat, ‘If you are not in my good book, your state is doomed’.

“Is Mr. President saying that his relationship with governors will influence the discharge of his statutory duties to their states? Don’t people or governors have the right to disagree with the president? Is this the reason why many states are not getting their complete allocations? Does it mean the President short pays these governors just because they are not in good terms with him? Some many questions are begging for answers from Mr. President.

“A president rules by the provisions of the Constitution, not from his mind. Even when governors cast aspersions on the office of the President, he is duty bound to carry out his responsibility towards their states.”

He however said, “It is high time somebody told Mr. Preisdent not to use constitutional authority for personal vendetta. The resources with which he develops any part of the country are not from his private coffers but our common patrimony so must not be deployed into fighting personal battle. It is not up to him to pick and choose what states he will develop, rather, he is constitutionally bound to be fair to all parts of the country irrespective of personal differences he may have with some states governors.”