President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday condemned some politicians parading themselves as statesmen and senior citizens whereas, they are by their utterances, “ordinary politicians and motor park touts.”

He said such politicians could not be described as statesmen because of the big offices they occupied before but by virtue of what they brought to bear on the nation.

Jonathan spoke while playing host to a delegation of the Tanko-Yakasai-led Northern Elders Council in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Although the President did not mention names, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had on Monday said Nigeria was facing economic problems due to the failure of the present administration to plan for a rainy day.

Obasanjo had told Iyalodes and eminent women leaders from the South-West, who visited him at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State, that the nation’s reserves which as of 2007 stood at $67bn had been depleted by the Federal Government.

The former President had earlier written an open letter to Jonathan in which he accused him of tribalism, condoning corruption and training snipers.

But a visibly angry Jonathan told the Northern elders that some people were hiding under big names to create problems for the country.

Jonathan also said that such people were in the habit of making unguarded statements with the aim of creating enmity.

The President said, [b]“Some people call themselves statesmen but they are not statesmen, they are just ordinary politicians.

“For you to be a statesman, it is not because you have occupied a big office before but the question is what are you bringing to bear on the nation?

“Are you building this country? Or are you a part of the people who tell lies to destroy this country; to create enmity and make people who ordinarily would have been living together to fight themselves?

“Are you planning to set the country ablaze because you did not get that particular thing you want?

“At the appropriate time, Nigerians will know all of them even though I know most of such people. The younger ones do not know.

“Some people, including those with big names, are hiding under some clogs and creating a lot of problems in this country.

“They are making provocative statements that will set this country ablaze. How can someone tell me that such people are senior citizens. They are not senior citizens and they can never be. They are ordinary motor park touts.

“If you are a senior citizen, you will act like one. It is not because of the offices we occupy, it is by divine grace and providence that some of us occupy these offices. But what role are you playing to build this country?”
[/b]
Jonathan also used the opportunity to assure the delegation that he was not against the Northern part of the country.

He said whenever he heard about such accusation, he always turned to Vice- President Namadi Sambo who is from the North to ask if, indeed, he is anti-North.

The President listed his Principal Secretary, Hassan Tukur, and his Chief Detail simply identified as Yusuf, as some of his close aides from the North.

Jonathan said because of his background, he believed that the only thing that could liberate individuals was education.

He said that was why he insisted that nine out of the 12 new federal universities be located in the North.

Jonathan said, “I used to tell Nigerians that I come from a background people refer to as the Talakawas; I come from that level and I am here today talking to Alhaji Jimeta because I went to school.

“And I said the only thing that can liberate an individual or a group of individuals is education. If I had not gone to school, I wouldn’t have been here to talk to big people like these.

“If you didn’t go to school, you wouldn’t have spoken the way you spoke, you would have looked for somebody to interpret. This is what I believe. I don’t play politics with it. It has been my policy that I don’t play politics with education.
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http://www.punchng.com/news/some-senior-citizens-are-motor-park-touts-jonathan/

westheimer:


“Today I saw a publication in the Daily Trust showing projects that have been awarded by the Federal Government, the ones for the north-east very small, south-south very many. I had to make photocopies and distributed to all the ministers and I asked if it is true that projects are skewed by this government? Because I am a president from the south, I have taken all the projects to the south?

“And I said all the ministers must come up and tell me how the projects are being distributed across the country and if it is skewed you must tell me why it is so.

“One of the ministers incidentally is from the north, she is in charge of water resources. She said the publication cannot be true because Kashimbila Dam alone, the value is more than the amount quoted in that paper.

“This is to show you how mischievous Nigerians are because you want to paint Jonathan bad. All of lies that have been told about this government, I promise you that I am working with your son and I will not cheat any part of this country.

“For the people who want to paint us in all kinds of colour, we will explain to Nigerians. They are a lot of documentations we will show Nigerians.”

lolade123:
With all sincerity, I think Jonathan tried his best and he sounds tired and frustrated. May God bless him for his effort so far.And may God bless GMB/Osinbajo as they come on board...CHANGE is here.

karidad:
Tnk u Mr President. But of what use is the education u r providing if after all we return to sit with our parents and still demand from dem? Endeavour to create jobs. Help revive some of the dead companies. Tnx.

gnykelly:
FEBUHARI 2015. #change.

chukwudi44:
Chai GEJ don finish Obasanjo finally!!!!! The inbreeding and inconsequential General has been shamed Lol

chukwudi44:


Continue to dream shaa it is very much allowed. By February 15 2015 your eyes go clear

Yomieluv:
We are not buying any of these,all we want is action,not someone who has no balls to be decisive.