In what appears to be a major credibility stunt, President Jonathan read a speech in which he scored his government high on all sides.
Mr. Jonathan’s words: “…the fight against the scourge of corruption is a top priority of our administration.
“We are fighting corruption in all facets of our economy, and we are succeeding. We have put an end to several decades of endemic corruption associated with fertilizer and tractor procurement and distribution. We have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book,” he added.
To give his claims international credibility, the presidents then said: “In its latest report, Transparency International (TI) noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption.”
The lie
PREMIUM TIMES, an online news agency contacted Transparency International seeking a copy of its latest report which the President referred to in his speech.
The group replied promptly disowning Mr. Jonathan and saying it had no such report.
“Transparency International does not have a recent rating or report that places Nigeria as the second most improved country in the fight against corruption,” the group said in an email to this newspaper.
The group said its most recent indexing of Nigeria’s corruption activities was in the 2011 Corruption Perceptions Index, which measured perceived level of public sector corruption in the country.
In that index, Nigeria scored 2.4 on a scale where 0 means highly corrupt and 10 means very clean. It was ranked 143 out of 183 countries.
That rating was actually a dip in performance for Nigeria as the country was rated 134 out of 183 countries the previous year, 2010.
The president’s spokesperson would not comment for this story. The Special Adviser on Media, Reuben Abati as well as the Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, did not answer or return calls.
They also did not reply text messages sent to their telephones.
Cases Jonathan ignores
Since resuming office in 2010, President Jonathan is believed not to have shown vigour in the fight against corruption – including corruption involving past and current actors in his administration. The tipping point in the president’s profile, regarding reluctance in promoting transparency, came when, in his last media chat, he scoffed at a question on why he had not publicly declared his asset. On live television, the president snapped “I don’t give a damn!”
The petroleum minister, Diezani Madueke, a close ally of the president, has heaps of established corruption allegations against her, but none has been investigated by Mr. Jonathan’s administration; while she still remains in office as one of the favorite ministers.
In August 2011, President Goodluck Jonathan secretly ordered the payment of $155 million to Malabu oil, a firm owned by an ex-convict and former petroleum minister, Dan Etete. Not only was the payment done without the knowledge of the Finance Minister, Malabu transferred the money into dubious accounts including that owned by a man with links to Mr. Jonathan. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed to investigate the Malabu scandal.
Two members of the President’s cabinet, Godsday Orubebe and Stella Oduah, illegally registered an NGO, Neighbour to Neighbour, on whose board they sit, and which they then used in campaigning for the President’s election; in contravention of CAC registration guidelines and the CAMA Act. The presidency has kept mum on this.
There have been several cases of visitors to the Presidential Villa being given huge sums of money after their visits. The Save Nigeria Group was offered $30 thousand, and the Northern elders N20 million; both groups rejected the cash gifts given to them by the presidency.
There are also mounts of corruption cases involving government officials, politicians and ‘friends of the government’ that have been lingering for years while perpetrators roam free.
Source Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
May God forgive him.
ReplyDeleteSo after running Mr. President down What next?
ReplyDeleteThen we take on you
ReplyDeleteNigerians are bias when it comes to religion and ethnicity .
ReplyDeleteCan somebody tell me why GEJ should be allowed to stay in office for the next 24 hrs.
One mayor resign in China bcos he could not cater for his people during flood ( 2 months ago ).
I m not praising China.
However , why should president be telling lie about Nigeria ranking in terms of corruption .
This is bad image for Nigeria in diaspora .
I think base on moral ground , he should voluntary resign.
I dont have personal enmity for GEJ however putting Nigerian masses condition into consideration , i think GEJ doesn't have anything to offer this country.
I THINK WE SHOULD BE OBJECTIVE NOT SENTIMENTAL IN ORDER FOR THIS COUNTRY TO MOVE FORWARD .
Can somebody tell me weather there is no Internet in Aso rock for them to check the fact about our rating.
ReplyDeleteBut i think ruben abati , doyin and all presidential editorial are well educated .
ReplyDeleteThey should know how to use internet to check fact and figure before including it in presidency speech .
Also , i think GEJ is a PHD holder.
Sorry for this Nation.
Why are you telling lies ?
ReplyDeleteWhy ?
Can you tell me ?
I don't like lier
He does know how search for anything on internet except facebook and twitter .
ReplyDeleteSorry MR President .
I dey laugh
ReplyDeleteThis is not a laughing matter .
ReplyDeleteWe are talking about Nigeria no 1 .
Well meaning Nigeria like Wole Soyinka and the rest should rally around GEJ , bcos he doesnt know what to do again .
Directionless Syndrome .
Why re we busy critising mr Gej dt he has nt fulfill all his campaign promises does nt make him a failure afterall pple who failed nd later learn 4rm dia past mistakes most times ar heroes ..in ar d area of coruption i tink d war against coruption shld b a joint task.so my felow nigerians lets learn to b apreciative coz 1yr nd z nt enuff to rate 1ce achievement. Above all i think d writter of dz article z an anti-govt.
ReplyDeleteYou are very foolish,blind bat. How many days did Murtala Muhammed spent in office? How many days did Musa Ya'radua spent in office(before falling sick). Did day ever lie to you? Ya'radua was able to come to terms with militant. Murtala was able to sustain economic development. Can you in anyway compare their achievements with that of GEJ. Your pally Mr. President is confused and unintelligent. You see why I called you a blind bat.
DeleteMr 9.58... You be complete idiot.. How can you compare military degree to Civilian rule. Oranges to oranges, not oranges to yam..yar Adua was a man of strong principle and it was his tribes turn to run for office according to PDP. Jonathan on the other Hand means well but his efforts to make Positive changes has been met with swift resistance you will be an idiot to deny that.. I'm terms of bribe, are you saying during yar Adua term no body collected and received bribe...within this write up.. See how much was rejected.. Do you think it was rejected on moral grounds or the amount given...my friend think before you reply ..
DeleteThis is the peak of CORRUPTION. When the president had to lie to score his administration high. This is grand deception. GEJ should just honourably resign.
ReplyDeletePEAK OF CORRUPTION!!? have you being living in another planet... $16 billion went missing under Obasanjo and you call mis- information peak...craze dey worry you ...
DeleteIt also means that his lives on a different planet from his people because if a normal person was presented with such information it would be questionable and prompt me to dig deeper as I would have know that corruption and impunity has gotten much worse. It therefore also shows him as being highly incompetent
ReplyDeleteall we love doing is to critised , why not profer solutions thro medium like this to the president and beside we draw conclossion to things so quick while some of us writing can not even manage our homes and we are here hiding in the net critising some body
ReplyDeleteThis talk is not making a head way, how many of you here talking have access to this data Transparency International don't release any single data or information to Press or any organization unless during press release of which majority of of the report circulate within Europe and America. I have access to tons of journal and publication. Get your findings you that access internet before condemning and talking about Internet. If you have worked in Local Government you will know what is it with imagination of the Federal Government. I rest my Case
ReplyDeleteDid we ever told you it was making head way? This article is a product of research done by high-flyers and professionals in the field. How dare discredit this publication? Since you have access to tons of journals and publication,why don't you go and open ur own media house so that people like u who have their own tons of application can come and talk their rubbish. Blind Coward.
DeleteMr 10.30.. What do you mean by highflyers? You have forgotten that this is politics. Besides, GEJ could be referring to the 2011 report..afterall it was reported under is term...
DeleteGEJ resign, GEJ is bad, GEJ is incompetent, GEJ is the worst president so far. Who had ever been a good president since the origin of Nigeria. Nigerians have short memory, we sing praises at every little achievements and turn sour at every little mistake. What does Nigerians really want cause i dont forsee any better person that is good for that post even if GEJ should resign today, not even among all those waging their tongues. Nikky
ReplyDeleteNo president has ever looked into our eyes on National Television (on independence) and blatantly tell us lies and deceive us, credit his govt about it has proof of. This shows your degree or equivalent is without and ill -gotten, OLODO. You and your president should know that Nigerians are more enlightened now than a decade ago. So no room for midiocrity. So when next you want to make a point sit down and think critical before you Wag your tongue. Psychophant.
DeleteMr 10.11 you be heavy idiot!! What proof do you have that states this report is accurate and not bias...who is the writer? Who are his/her affiliates... Present your facts!! If not look in a mirror and shout PSYCHOPHANT 3 times. If you see your reflection your own don finish.. Useless goat pikin..
Deleteall this is the hand work of politicians, u guys should pls give him time before criticizing what u kn and what u don't know. hissssssssssssssss.
ReplyDeletemr product is a goat and he study animal before he become the president of this great country, we all know that this man is a fairly and we do not need him in that office.
ReplyDeletePeople dey criticize this fowl sef show face. Mr man read what you wrote....
Delete"Giv him time", U̶̲̥̅̊ mean like τ̅w☺ more tenure ?. W̶̲̥̅Ƹ hAve pple dying Fǿя̩̥̊ d sake of peace day i̶̲̥̅̊n̶̲̥̅̊ day out, & u think he needs more time.GEJ is nothing buh a coward,tail btw legs coward, & believe me he's nt fit to run a state talk more of a country.SMH.
ReplyDeleteThe man is simply clueless ..
ReplyDeleteI wont blame GEJ on the part of corruption but why telling lie .
ReplyDeleteI always defend Nigeria when people (Other Nationality )say we are corrupt .
But what would i say when they attack that we are all lier.
GEJ just fall my hand by telling lie to score his administration.
I can endure a clueless government but not a lowing one
ReplyDeleteAre yuo sayn we should give more chance to GEJ .
ReplyDeleteI dont want to say you are sick.
No multinational company can employ GEJ as manager without sacking him within 3 months.
Let me ask you ( anonymous ) one question ,can you name one multil national company that
can employ GEJ ?
This guy is too ...
I m expect GEJ to apologise to Nigerian for telling lie on democracy day.
GEJ really achieve according to my rating.
ReplyDelete*First Nigeria President to lie ( naked one ) on democracy day .
GEJ can you tell me weather you deserve October Salary without tendering to apology
What is the difference btw gej and Napoleon the pig in animal farm? God help us
ReplyDeleteAnonymous Above:10:30AM
ReplyDeleteAre u NigerianEye?I don't understand which side are you.
Wen all dis lies, corruption, mismanagement and misconception comes together and invade this nation one time, who will save us from collapse wen those we entrust with the nation are killing us through high cost of living, accident on bad road, corruption, bombing, lies and intentionally diverting our attention from our immediate problem to other useless national pointless situations? Who I say. Who will save my fatherland?
ReplyDeleteWen all dis lies, corruption, mismanagement and misconception comes together and invade this nation one time, who will save us from collapse wen those we entrust with the nation are killing us through high cost of living, accident on bad road, corruption, bombing, lies and intentionally diverting our attention from our immediate problem to other useless national pointless situations? Who I say. Who will save my fatherland?
ReplyDeletelooking at our country's corruption level,one will think that with the corruption fight GEJ is always talking about,a reasonable number of government officials would have being put behind bars,but thats not the case.Even countries with low corruption level persecute officials much more often than our government.Does that mean all the corruption we talk about ends with yahoo boys and some armed robbers that police and Efcc are always boasting about.There are government officials taking public funds by trillions and billions!!.those are the ones we want to hear often being caught and also sent to jail long term not like Bode George.Until we start hearing Top government officials sent to jail in their tens and hundreds,only then will i believe the fight is a serious one for corruption and corrupt public servants.for now everything is just wash!!
ReplyDeleteWhy do you need to add lie to the list of our problem ?
ReplyDeleteLol to anonymous 7:16 am. The best comment I have read in years. Hahahahahahaha. Ask him abeg.
ReplyDeleteOBJ taught GEJ how to talk before thinking.
ReplyDeleteHave u guys care to check d credibility of this report?....it's sickening that all we do as nigerians is to jump at any opportunity to insult GEJ even in our sleep...it's a wretched attitude that needs to be checked...how many of u prayed for nigeria yesterday?...but were looking for loopholes in GEJ speech....PREMIUM TIMES...sounds dubious to me..if u are waiting for GEJ to put this country right then u must be far from reality...it's high time we shut up and join hands together to make our country great again....the blabber mouths in this page will do worse if they are in power, let's imbibe a positive attitude towards our nation and stop criticizing GEJ. Only our prayers will eradicate bad leaders and move this nation forward.
ReplyDeleteWe have been joining hands to make the country great for 52 yrs while our rulers abuse their rigged offices and loot the nation to a failed state. Ah beg, leave your social enginering of 'joining hands' with the dwindling numbers of naïve nigerians. Until we see the these looting thieves in prison and stripped of the stolen wealth that they have gained you can join hands with the few olodos in Nigeria that believe that nonsence. Our eye don open and e go soon tear!
DeleteWe never expected this from him.......we voted him because he proved worthy @ bayelsa now he's not even duin his job all he does is increase his personal budget nd allow souls to waste everyday we know ts not easy buh @ least there should be peace in our COUNTRY NIGERIA because we have the money ........
ReplyDeleteIf all the past presidents and head of states that has ruled Nigeria were competent and effective except President Goodluck, why was Nigeria in the mess bfor Goodluck's government. This government is the best thing that has ever happen in Nigeria, we are now freedly criticizing the president without been harassed by security agents, thuggery in our elections are near instinct, at least the people's votes are now counting and no single interference by a sitting president. Power generation is significantly improving. I think we are in the right direction except, the deliberate gang up and campaign against the present government through violence from some sections of the country in view of 2015.
ReplyDelete