Media chat: Opposition parties accuse Jonathan of doublespeak
NOVEMBER 20, 2012 BY NIYI ODEBODE AND OLUSOLA FABIYI


Three main opposition parties in the country on Monday gave a damning verdict of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s performance during his Sunday media chat and termed the administration as confused and lacking in credibility.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, Congress for Progressive Change and the All Nigeria Peoples Party in separate statements accused the President and his aides of sending conflicting messages to Nigerians.

The ACN, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said that it was concerned about conflicting statements emanating from the President and his spokespersons.

The opposition party said the presidency was suffering from a credibility deficiency syndrome.

The ACN said it was worried because of the frequency with which the President contradicted those he appointed as spokespersons, adding that the credibility of his administration was at stake.

It stated, ‘’Credibility is a key issue in governance, and lack of it renders a government impotent.

“Perhaps this worsening credibility gap in the Jonathan administration is one of the reasons that it had so far failed to perform to expectation.”

It said Jonathan during his media chat denied that his government had revoked the power contract awarded to Canadian firm, Manitoba, and recalled that the President’s spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, had earlier been widely quoted as saying that the President had cancelled the contract.

The party said the same Abati had been widely quoted as saying, in August and this month that the government was engaged in ‘’backroom channel’’ talks with Boko Haram but that the President during the media chat said there was no dialogue with the sect because members of the sect had no face.

According to the ACN, Jonathan has finally confirmed the reported illness of his wife, Patience, although spokespersons for the President and the First Lady said she was hale and hearty.

“We also recall that this flip-flopping and deliberate disinformation or both did not just start on Sunday, and that it has been the hallmark of the Jonathan presidency.

“For instance, while some spokespersons at the Presidency once described the report of the probe of the oil sector by the House of Representatives as merely of ‘advisory’ value to the presidency, others said the presidency has indeed started its implementation.”

‘’Also, shortly after Dr. Doyin Okupe rubbished the Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Report as inconclusive and therefore not implementable, the President announced the setting up of a White Paper Committee on the report, indicating that Okupe, in his usual exuberant disposition, may have been speaking for no one but himself.”

The ANPP, in a statement by its spokesman, Chief Emma Eneukwu, said the President was confused, saying Jonathan was interested in contesting the 2015 presidency.

It stated, “On 2015, the President is confused. He wants to run in 2015 but he does not have anything to show for it.

“He does not want other candidates who are interested to start their campaign or mobilisation. He wants to catch them unawares. But he knows Nigerians won’t give him their votes.”

The party noted that the media chat was meant to present the President’s ideas with the utmost frankness and simplicity but that he only succeeded in “obfuscating the minds of Nigerians.”

It stated, “When asked about the ongoing constitution amendment, the President declined to take any position on the myriad of issues being raised for amendment in the constitution, with the self-serving explanation that it would be in the best interest of Nigerians to suggest areas in the constitution to be amended.”

“However, we believe that it is the sign of a leader with ideas and direction to have a clear-cut legislative agenda, as a signature of his policy philosophy.”

“We in the ANPP believe that President Goodluck Jonathan needs more than a media chat to communicate to the disillusioned masses his government’s vaunted vision, progress and plans. Action speaks louder than word,” it said.

The CPC spokesman, Rotimi Fashakin, in a text message sent to our correspondent said, “The chest-beating by the president is based on nothing.

“Where are the verifiable facts of prosecutions that this regime saw to conclusive end? Anybody can get enmeshed in empty grandstanding when given the stage but not all can deal truthfully.”