With Jonathan, Nigeria will arise again, says Strategy adviser, Oronto Douglas

President Goodluck Jonathan

President Jonathan Goodluck believes in the politics of ideas which will be committed to improving the living condition of Nigerians.

Mr Oronto Douglas, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Strategy made this comment as he addressed a cross interactive section of Nigerians at the Resource Centre Holloway road, London recently.

He said the President has been taking his time to consult with a wide section of Nigerians before deciding whether to contest the forthcoming presidential election or not.

The SSA said the president believes things should be done in the interest of the Nigerian people noting that as country consisting of 356 nations, the unity of Nigeria is of utmost importance.

Oronto douglas

Oronto Douglas revealed that there are presently 1,126 groups campaigning for the president all over the country noting that while some are portfolio groups, the rest are networks.

The President’s helmsman believes the President Jonathan Goodluck is qualified to contest the presidential election.

He said: “The president believes in politics of ideas and issues. He has done well in terms of strategy and the need to improve the country’s infrastructure. I believe he is qualified to contest.”
Making clarification on the N17bn naira to be spent on the 50th Independence celebration, the SSA said the money would be spent on improving infrastructure such as airports, communication infrastructures, power sector, and other vital sectors of the economy which would attract foreign investment. He said: “we need to strategise for the next 50 years. Strategy is of utmost importance as the nation meets the diverse challenges of development in the different sectors of the economy”.
The cross section of Nigerians who attended the briefing included the Chairman of Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), Dr Mike Abani, Member of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Oladimeji, President of the Ohaneze Idigbo, Chief Uzualor, Members of the Urhobo Political Forum, Special Adviser to the President on Parastatals and Mr Braaji Ekufe.

Other include the President of the Isoko Union, UK branch, President of the Urhobo Historical Society, UK branch, Mr Simpson Obruche, a member of the Isoko Development Union, Mr Ogheneovo and the convener of the forum, Mr Roland Ekperi. Other  included a cross session of other Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Emmanuel Urhuofe with Douglas

The aggregate of responses to the briefing shows that Nigerians are well disposed to the presidential credentials of President Jonathan Goodluck but were quick to remind the SSA that the President should set about resolving some of the inadequacies inherent in the present Nigerian social situation.

Among these are the inadequate power supply, lack of good portable drinking water, fair electoral process, the need for Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote, the need to educate the masses about how to use the ballot box and the need to check electoral malpractices.

‘Let there be light’
Mr Ogheneovo, President of the Isoko Union in the UK said: “Please tell the President that when God created the earth, He said ‘Let there be light’ and there was light. Please let us have light in Nigeria.”
President of Ohaneze Indigbo, Dr Uzualor pleaded for the proper registration of voters adding that ‘it will be fair to register human beings not animals’. President of the Yoruba Elders Forum Dr Olademeji said he had witnessed all the elections from Nigeria Independence till date.

He stressed that people have lost confidence in the electoral system, pleading that without a good election, corruption will never end.
President of the Historical Society UK, Mr Simpson Obruche said Nigerians should be proud because “for the first time we have a President who is listening to us.

He said:”Nigeria is made of various nationalities and we are struggling to become a nation. President Jonathan Goodluck is a man of good quality.

However Nigeria is suffering from lack of patriotism, We praise those who steal money from the coffers, leaving behind those who are patriotic.” He added that people like Colonel Fajuyi and Gen Ejoor are the most patriotic Nigerians but they have been largely neglected in Nigeria hall of fame.

Chairman of CANUK, Mr Isaac Abani want the President to put a system in place to educate the masses about how to use the ballot box. He suggested there should be specialist courts, just like the EFCC, to deal with people involved in election malpractices.

Treasurer of the Urhobo Political Forum, Salomi Ojakovo want the president to include the issue of safeguarding public health to his top 5 year strategic plan, noting that the United Nations in July 2010 included safe drinking and effective sanitation to the list of basic human rights.

She pointed out that the President therefore has a legal and morale obligation to ensure that safe drinking water and effective sanitation be made available to every Nigerian not just the wealthy.

She added that the President should look at the improvement of other public health issues such the rampant air pollution in the Niger Delta from gas flaring which according to up-to-date research has reduced the life expectancy of children borne in the Niger Delta to 45 years compared to 60yeras in elsewhere in Nigeria and 85years in the developed world.
Salomi Ojakovo further commented on the financial resources that can be obtained from recycling of the valuable natural gas that is currently being flared.-

Frank Uchendu, Deputy President of Ohaneze Indigbo said the political reforms should include constitutional reforms to preclude zoning stressing that President Jonathan should make up his mind as to whether to contest the election or not.

A member of the Isoko Development Union, Wilson Ovie, asked for more attention to be given to the Niger Delta issue adding that the moribund National Conference should be revived whereby Nigerian nationhood should be defined. He added: “We need to develop a non-violent youth, through education and focus.

Our youth in the Niger-Delta are neglected, despised and distanced.”

Activist Onajevwe Ejakpovi said it is time for Nigeria to look at diversification of the economy stressing that Nigeria’s dependency on oil is threat to the future of our nation.

Ufuoma Temisaren, Organising Secretary of the UPF said President Jonathan should put the machinery in motion whereby presidential aspirants such as IBB and Atiku should be checkmated because of the scandal surrounding them.

He said: “If we get the right President wrong, we will be in a bad shape”.

Responding, Oronto Douglas, who is also a prominent human right lawyer and environmentalist, informed the audience that Nigerians in the Diaspora will now be in a position to cast their votes in coming elections.

He advised Nigerians to be abreast with the development in Nigeria adding that at best “they should have one leg in Nigeria and another in the Diaspora.”

He said the world leaders responded favourably to Nigeria when President Jonathan Goodluck attended the nuclear summit in May 2010, adding that Nigerians need to stand up with one voice on electoral reforms, electricity, Niger-Delta issues and various issues affecting the development of the country.

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