Posted by: The Citizen in Governance, Headlines December 17, 2013

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday told his critics and opposition parties that they were portraying his administration in bad light before the international community.
He therefore warned that he would not allow their selfish ambitions for the 2015 general election to destroy the country.
His warning is coming six days after an 18-page letter in which a former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, made scathing remarks about his administration was made public. It also came less than 24 hours after the opposition All Progressives Congress called on the National Assembly to immediately commence impeachment proceeding against Jonathan for alleged gross misconduct.
Although he has yet to personally respond to Obasanjo’s letter and the APC’s call for his impeachment, the Peoples Democratic Movement and the Nigeria Labour Congress on Monday, said he needed to do so because the allegations levelled against him by the former President were weighty.
At a lecture and award ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan told his critics to be cautious in attacking his administration because it was the selfish ambition of some politicians that led to the “wrongful overthrow” of the Shehu Shagari administration in 1983.
He was represented at the annual lecture, the third in a series by Nigerian Pilot Newspapers and Nigerian Newsworld, by the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku.
The President claimed that the criticisms against his administration were not constructive enough to challenge his development strides.
Jonathan,who said he had developed a “thick skin against such criticisms”, however advised politicians to thread with caution as their actions could destabilise the democractic structures already in place in the country.
He said, “There is a difference between ambition and reality. Go for your ambition, nobody is disturbing you because it is a free world. Go and compete, but don’t pull down this country called Nigeria because of your personal ambition. It is unacceptable.
“I think there is a difference between debates and insults. I reject insults and the fact that I am a public officer doesn’t give anybody the liberty to insult me. Most of the time you cannot detach the Office of the President and honour of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“There are people who are honestly trying to put things down for this country to move on. I think we can see the difference between facts and fiction.
“Let us not continue to behave as if we can pull down our own house; we as politicians and public servants should not behave as if we were picked on the streets. You don’t just go and pour acid on the faces of public officers.
“When Shagari was overthrown in 1983, there was a lot of noise that the government was not doing anything and nothing was not said about Shagari’s regime.
“Shagari was overthrown amidst lies….The greatest shame of this country is Ajaokuta Steel Complex. If Shagari was there, by 1986, he would have completed Ajaokuta.”
But Maku took a swipe at the media, stressing that on a daily basis, they were awash with highly fictional information.
He said, “If you look through our media reports today, we see insults and abuses, every day. If somebody did not abuse Mr. President, it will look as if there is no journalism on that day.
“We are talking about our country, our nation’s institutions and democracy; we are talking about setting standards for this democracy, standards of behaviour, standards of conduct and standards of principles of behaviour and every democracy must be parliamentary. We should not go personal, but we are going too personal.”
Maku compared the media to a mirror, which when broken, gives a false image.
He said, “We must not destroy the mirror and present the image as ugly.
“The mirror is very important in conveying the good image of our people. We have completely ignored issues on the ground and we are embarking on personality debates.
“The way we are sensationalising the development of this nation in public debates, is so annoying and it is not supposed to be so. I am a big time journalist.
“But there is a difference between reporting events and articulating a position because the media are supposed to articulate public debates. When the media embark on abuse and insults, the people will be confused.”

http://thecitizenng.com/governance/jonathan-hits-back-at-opposition-parties-others-over-attacks-on-presidency/

It is wrong to insult the president. It is unjustifiable. The president however has to deliver. The insults seem like the cry for help by Nigerians.

deols: It is wrong to insult the president. It is unjustifiable. The president however has to deliver. The insults seem like the cry for help by Nigerians.

I agree but people has again accepted it as if it is normal. So sad.

jona shuld respond 2 d allegations leveled against his administration and stop ranting and finding fault like a baby.

is so pathetic dat gej culd term criticism frm pple as insult, been made a leader is one thing, growing up and having capacity 4 leadership is another great thing, he shuld grow up 4 leadership responsibility.

danot1030: jona shuld respond 2 d allegations leveled against his administration and stop ranting and finding fault like a baby.

That is the koko of the matter, he relies on emotional manipulation of people rather than addressing the issues raised, the most divisive president Nigerian ever had remains jona, The National Assembly seriously need to consider impeaching Jonathan, you do not allow an individual who in the words of Obj, have successfully divided Nigeria into Muslims and Christians, North and South, Ijaw and the Rest, to continue to maintain his position to inflict pains against a country that is bleeding.

We are in an era of reckless politicians. Instigating hatred and disrespect to the office of the president. If there is no symbol of authority for a nation, anarchy knocks. I only want to beg Nigerians to be wise. If Nigeria fails, the options will not be palatable, be it military coup or the division of the nation which will likely result in war. Mind you, having traveled round major cities in the world, these same opposition leaders have their children leaving in so much largesse and if war breaks out in Nigeria, their children are safe and they too will jet out with their private jets leaving the innocent masses to suffer. I have been to african countries that have suffered war, the pains of death of relations, rape and all atrocities of war is a heavy burden to bare. Let's give constructive criticism and avoid unnecessarily escalating issues all to win recognition by the opposition and reduce the popularity of the president. Jonathan may not be the best President Nigeria deserves, but at the moment he is the best option available. Who among his condemning judges is better? Nigerians be wise and think for your selves out side the tactics and antics of our lousy leaders.

Catalyst101: We are in an era of reckless politicians. Instigating hatred and disrespect to the office of the president. If there is no symbol of authority for a nation, anarchy knocks. I only want to beg Nigerians to be wise. If Nigeria fails, the options will not be palatable, be it military coup or the division of the nation which will likely result in war. Mind you, having traveled round major cities in the world, these same opposition leaders have their children leaving in so much largesse and if war breaks out in Nigeria, their children are safe and they too will jet out with their private jets leaving the innocent masses to suffer. I have been to african countries that have suffered war, the pains of death of relations, rape and all atrocities of war is a heavy burden to bare. Let's give constructive criticism and avoid unnecessarily escalating issues all to win recognition by the opposition and reduce the popularity of the president. Jonathan may not be the best President Nigeria deserves, but at the moment he is the best option available. Who among his condemning judges is better? Nigerians be wise and think for your selves out side the tactics and antics of our lousy leaders.

SMH, sharagada!!! Even when the same president openly absolves a terror group, MEND for crimes they claimed they committed? or is Obasanjo now in the opposition? Please make your criticism factual and error free!

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Apparrently what goes around comes around

Why must the govs speak out ? Has the man the letter was addressed to spoken out ? This was the way the whole country were castigating (rightly) Turai Yaradua and yet the man, GEJ, who would benefit kept mute.
IT IS HIGH TIME the COWARD GEJ BECOMES A MAN AND DEFEND HIMSELF. Is he such a slowpoke people have to do it for him ? Abati said GEJ was going to respond so we are waiting hopefulLy it won't be like Stella OduaH case we have not heard the outcome for over a month now. Jonathan must address issues raised in OBJ's letter. We might not like the messenger of the letter but we like the letter. Nigerians derserve to know what is going on. What happened to $50b? Why has Nigerian President become Ijaw President ? Why has CAN become an appendage of PDP ? Why are crooks jailed under OBJ being pardoned / released ? Why has no one of note been jailed for corruption ? Is corruption really exaggerated as GEJ claimed in a TV interview ?