POSTSCRIPT

POSTSCRIPT :

A good leader has respect for the law and regulations, maintains and develops skills, knowledge and experience in themselves and others. He is objective, transparent, accountable, fair and reasonable, takes responsibility for his own as well as others actions and acts with conviction while providing a clear direction, and communicates efforts effectively.

However focused and determined a leader is, he must have to carry out his duties within the statutory template inherited, unless and, until the laws and constitution are tweaked or tinkered to reflect the trends in the society and facilitate a more favourable actualization of democratic deliverables.

The mark of good leadership is often said to be impact. A good leader adopts a leadership style that lends itself to ethical considerations, for example transformational and adaptive styles – both of which engage followers in the decision making processes, and has the motivation to prevent harm to anyone, as much as reasonably practicable, as long as it is not self-inflicted or self-induced.

Before recounting any achievement by the 5th democratically elected head of the Nigerian State, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, it is pertinent to note that Nigerians are just 14 years into a non-stop democratic governance system for the first time in a hundred years.

Incontrovertible attitudinal evidence suggests the average Nigerian is still ingrained with autocratic and authoritarian outlook to leadership. Oblivious of the fact that councillors, Local Government Chairmen, State Assemblymen, Governors, Representatives and Senators also have huge parts to play in governance, the dividends of democracy has always been expected from the President alone. That is not desirable for a followership which should demand accountability from every stratum of governance and not just fixate on the nation’s number one citizen for what should ordinarily be the duties of an LGA Councillor for instance.

Unfortunately, the structure of governance in a democratic republic shares responsibility among the three tiers of government and the three arms of government (Executive, Legislature and Judiciary).

Today President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda is changing the face of Nigeria and impacting positively on the people after decades of neglect and rot. In spite of the security challenges Nigeria is facing, the president’s achievements in his relatively short time in office speaks volumes.
In his own words: “The urgent task of my administration is to provide a suitable environment, for productive activities to flourish. I therefore call on the good people of Nigeria, to enlist as agents of this great transformation”.
The chronicle here is based on Federal Government efforts as statutorily bestowed upon the President to carry out.

President Goodluck Jonathan became the first Nigerian president to be warned publicly not to contest for elections on account of ethno-regional selfish interest, and promised mayhem and gridlock if he does. First president/head of state from the entire southern Nigeria, who is neither a northerner nor an ex-military man. First social media era president/ head of state

First president/ head of state to evacuate Nigerians from trouble spots overseas by airlifting thousands of stranded citizens back home. First president/ head of state under whose tenure, multi party democracy blossomed most: six different political parties have governors in Nigeria: Labour Party, ACN, PDP, APGA, ANPP, and CPC (please note: all court orders overturned in favour of opposition parties were all obeyed: Osun, Ekiti, etc). First president/ head of state to sign into law the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA); replacing the 100 year old Official Secrets Act (OSA)

First president/ head of state to effectively outlaw toll-collecting illegal police checkpoints in Nigeria.

President Goodluck Jonathan is also the first president/ head of state to introduce a National Tax Policy to create a self-sufficient economy that could bring development to the people.

First president to pay attention to our international and local airports – Kano airport upgraded after 57 years, and other airports upgrades in progress, with some like Benin Airport, commissioned. Kaduna refinery rehabilitated after 15 years.

President Goodluck Jonathan is the first president to summon the courage and practical will to unbundle electricity distribution after 52 years. Problems inherited includes (a) Low Capacity Power Generation, (b) Abandoned NIPP Projects, (c) Decadent State of Power Distribution Administration, (d) Poor Gas Supply Initiatives, and (e) the inconclusive Power Privatization Plan.

In just under 2 years, power supply more than doubled after almost 100 years after amalgamation (met power supply at about 2,200 mw, now hovering between 4,237 mw and 5,000+ mw due to maintenance work after the completion of Power sector deregulation), and states have begun electricity distribution. 15 Private bidders have been presented their certificates for the first time in 100 years.

For over 2 decades, some of the busiest roads in Africa, located in Nigeria were in sorry states and caused deaths of thousands… But now GEJ has addressed the bad state of the Benin-Ore road which was rehabilitated after 20 years, and work is ongoing daily, on many others….GEJ has rejuvenated our comatose railways back to life after 20 years of lull in the sector, colonial laws under review, states and private investors welcome in the railways sector.

President Goodluck Jonathan is also the first to introduce 35% female appointments in government positions, first in decades to reduce salaries of public servants and examine the proliferation of different salary structures in the public service in the federation. First to deliver on nine new varsities, to accommodate, the growing number of admission candidates/population. . First to promise Almajiri School, and the promise kept.

900 million dollars Cocoa exported, as non-oil revenue first time in decades, 11 billion dollars trade surplus first time in decades, FG Roads and rural infrastructure taking shape gradually, lots of them neglected for decades. Railways chugging back to life, 48 billion dollars FOREX reserve… Excess crude another 9 or 7 billion or so….Please note: May will make him 2 years in office.. This page is too miniscule for recorded achievements… Moreover, he is not your governor or LGA Chairman… They collect money EVERY MONTH from ABUJA.

BY HENRY OMOREGIE