Although it is too early to start judging the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, there is enough ground to be hopeful of the performance of the administration judging by the calibre of the people in the federal cabinet, presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, said on Thursday in Lagos.
Mr Abati, who was inducted as fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, at the University of Lagos main auditorium, also said life at Aso Rock presidential Villa has been fun and full of learning.
“It is not yet 100 days, though it is fashionable for Nigerians to ask what within 100 days government has done this,” Mr Abati said. “To answer this questions directly and to also assuage the fear of the people who say that the momentum has not been generated yet, the truth of the matter is that the government has been working very hard and I will give you an example just in the area of foreign relations, which is also an important arm of the government, considering the strategic importance of Nigeria.
“Now in the last one month alone, President Jonathan has played host to the German Chancellor, he has received the British Prime Minister, he attended the independence anniversary of South Sudan, he was in Liberia, a few days ago he also was in Chad and he has also in the last three weeks received representative of Côte d’Ivoire and also from Niger. Now you will see that he has done a lot to hold on to Nigeria’s strategic importance within the region.” He also stated that Mr Jonathan was doing a lot in other parts of governance and towards ensuring stability in the country.
“When people were saying that the cabinet is not in place. Now the cabinet is in place and the ministers are out there and they are working,” he said. “At least I work in that Presidency and I see that President Jonathan is making very serious effort. He is hardworking and he is committed.” Mr Abati also said Nigerians need to see the issue of the single term tenure before the National Assembly as a national issue and not “Jonathan’s affair.” According to him, “Whatever comes out of this will be the decision of the Nigerians.”
Day of honour
The president of the academy, Ben Elugbe, in his address at the event, which marked the 13th convocation and investiture of new fellows, described Nigeria as “a lucky nation, loved by the Almighty.”
According to him, “Those problems that lead to conflagration in other African countries somehow find peaceful, if quasi-resolution here.
“But such resolutions invariably come at an unnecessary and avoidable cost to life and property. There is also the quiet cost that may not always be visible or understood by the public. NAL exists for and is committed to the peace and survival of the country. Therefore we join well-meaning Nigerians in condemning violence.” Another recipient of the NAL honour, a university professor who translated the national anthem and pledge into Yoruba, Adebayo Faleti, described the honour as one his colleagues can never forget in life.
“Today is a very great day for us,” he said. “It is a new direction, a new encomium, a new prestige to whatever we might have achieved in the past. In the future, we might be asked what day of our lives we remembered most, then a day like this is worthy of note.”
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