Africa
Act Fast and Aggressively, Danjuma Tells Jonathan
By Elizabeth Archibong, NEXT 5/3/10
Mar 6, 2010 - 7:53:42 AM

Acting President, Goodluck Jonathan, should act fast and aggressively to effect the needed transformation in the country, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee, Theophilus Danjuma, said yesterday in Abuja.

The former army chief, who spoke at the inauguration of the 25-member committee at the council chambers of the presidential villa, urged Mr. Jonathan to make the fight against corruption pro-active rather than reactive because prevention is better than cure.

Nigerians react

Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Balarabe Musa and Afenifere leader, Supo Sonibare, Thursday gave cautious support to the inauguration of the Presidential Advisory Committee.

Mr. Musa said Nigerians must support the Acting President in his efforts to stabilise the country.

“If he finds it necessary to do that (the appointment of the committee) in spite of having a Federal Executive Council, I think there must be some political manipulations, but let’s watch what he wants to do. We need not make a controversy out of this,” Mr. Musa said.

“Let us not make the presidential advisory committee controversial. The president has so much to do on his hands. Let us wait and see what he will do in the very limited time he has.”

Mr. Sonibare said Mr. Jonathan is entitled to seek the assistance of whoever he needs to carry out his function successfully. He, however, said the expectation is that the council would not just be figurative.

“He has the right to bring those that can advise on how to run the government successfully. I think that is what the country needs now,” he said. “Considering the controversial development surrounding Nigeria constitution over the time, it will be a good option if the council can help the president to constitute a constituency assembly that will ensure that a new constitution is given to Nigeria.”

Mr. Danjuma advised “This is a decisive moment in our history. At such moments, God always ensures that a nation possesses significant personalities who are to act as his agents for change.You, Mr. Acting President, are the significant personality that God has chosen at this time to take your place at the front in the struggle to save our country. Because the times are extraordinary, the measures that need to be taken are not only urgent but also extraordinary.”

He however, warned that unless the Acting President acts quickly, the goodwill which he now enjoys may be lost.

“You have the required courage and vision. What you did not have in the past was the authority. Now that you have been invested with the authority, the nation expects you to proceed quickly to effect the needed transformation. This is the right time for you to act, now when society can be trusted to be as generous as to credit you with your successes and to excuse your errors.”

He said Mr. Jonathan must take account of the fact that the administration has barely 12 months to serve out its tenure, which he said is too short to deal effectively with all the problems set out in his commitee’s terms of reference.

“But then, one day is a long time in politics. Mr. Acting President, you have sufficient time to make a difference,” he declared.

Restore momentum

He said there is a general feeling that the fight against corruption has slowed down and pleaded that something be done to restore the momentum.

“Side by side with the fight against corruption is the need to ensure that our elections are fair and transparent. The need for electoral reforms has already been acknowledged by your government and we commend the efforts made so far in that regard.

“We appeal to you to pursue that effort to its logical conclusion with all speed, determination and sincerity. If all you do, as Acting President, is to ensure that our elections are transparent, it shall be sufficient to endear you to the nation and you shall go down in history as one of our greatest leaders.”

He however, thanked President Musa Yar’Adua for his effective use of sticks and carrots in the solution of the long-standing Niger Delta problem.

“His grant of general amnesty to the militants, leading to the solution of lingering Niger Delta problem, is most commendable. We now fervently urge you to implement all the measures that have been agreed upon in order to reconcile the people of that area to the nation. The absence of peace in the Niger Delta is a threat to peace in the nation as a whole,” he said.

Service as trust

Mr. Jonathan said the group must not betray the trust bestowed on them by the country.

“Twenty-two days ago today, the nation spoke through the National Assembly and bestowed the exercise of presidential powers on me, pending the return of our President to full health.”

“Let me use this occasion to reaffirm my belief that the privilege and opportunity of service is a sacred trust that we must not betray. The authority to serve therefore, must always be derived from the power of the people.

“I am convinced therefore, that the best advertisement of good governance is its positive expressions of happiness in the lives of the governed. It is in pursuance of this goal and having due regard to the urgency of the moment, that I requested that a team of men and women of distinguished pedigree be called to service at this hour and in the interest of our nation.’’