Monday, May 30, 2011

Inauguration Address by  , President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

Inauguration Address by  , President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR
On the Occasion of His Swearing-in as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the 
Federal Republic of Nigeria On Sunday, 29th May, 2011

PROTOCOL

1.    My Dear Compatriots, I stand in humble gratitude to you, this day, having just sworn to the oath of office as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of our great nation.

2.    I thank you all, fellow citizens, for the trust and confidence, which you have demonstrated through the power of your vote. I want to assure you, that I will do my utmost at all times, to continue to deserve your trust.  

3.    I would like to specially acknowledge the presence in our midst today, of Brother Heads of State and Government, who have come to share this joyous moment with us.  Your Excellencies, I thank you for your solidarity.  I also wish to express my gratitude, to the Representatives of Heads of State and Government who are here with us.  My appreciation also goes to the chairperson of the African Union and other world leaders, our development partners, and all our distinguished guests.

4.    I want to specially thank all Nigerians for staying the course in our collective commitment to build a democratic nation. To members of the PDP family and members of other political parties, who have demonstrated faith in our democratic enterprise, I salute you.

5.    At this juncture, let me acknowledge and salute my friend and brother, Vice-President Namadi Sambo; and my dear wife, Patience, who has been a strong pillar of support.

6.    I thank her for galvanizing and mobilizing Nigerian women for the cause of democracy. In the same vein, I owe a debt of gratitude to my mother and late father. I cannot thank them enough.

7.    I cannot but pay tribute to our late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, with whom we won the Presidential election four years ago, when I contested as his running mate.   May God bless his soul.

8.    I also wish to pay tribute to our founding fathers, whose enduring sacrifices and abiding faith in the unity and greatness of our country, laid the foundation for the nation. We take enormous pride in their contributions.  The pivotal task of this generation, is to lift our fatherland to the summit of greatness.

9.    Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, earlier this year, over seventy-three million eligible Nigerians endured all manner of inconvenience just to secure their voters cards, in order to exercise the right to choose those that will govern them.

10.    At the polls, we saw the most dramatic expressions of the hunger for democracy. Stories of courage and patriotism were repeated in many ways, including how fellow citizens helped physically challenged voters into polling stations to enable them exercise their franchise.  The inspiring story of the one hundred and three year-old man, and many like him across the country, who struggled against the physical limitations of age to cast their vote, is noteworthy.

11.    Such determination derives from the typical Nigerian spirit of resilience in the face of the greatest of odds.  That spirit has, over the years, stirred our hopes, doused our fears, and encouraged us to gather ourselves to build a strong nation even when others doubted our capacity.

12.    Today, our unity is firm, and our purpose is strong.  Our determination unshakable. Together, we will unite our nation and improve the living standards of all our peoples whether in the North or in the South; in the East or in the West.  Our decade of development has begun.  The march is on.  The day of transformation begins today.  We will not allow anyone exploit differences in creed or tongue, to set us one against another. Let me at this point congratulate the elected Governors, Senators, members of the House of Representatives and those of the States Houses of Assembly for their victories at the polls.

13.    I am mindful that I represent the shared aspiration of all our people to forge a united Nigeria: a land of justice, opportunity and plenty. Confident that a people that are truly committed to a noble ideal, cannot be denied the realization of their vision, I assure you that this dream of Nigeria, that is so deeply felt by millions, will indeed come to reality.

14.    A decade ago, it would have been a mere daydream to think that a citizen from a minority ethnic group could galvanize national support, on an unprecedented scale, to discard ancient prejudices, and win the people's mandate as President of our beloved country. That result emanated from the toil and sacrifice of innumerable individuals and institutions, many of whom may never get to receive public appreciation for their effort.

15.    Only a couple of days ago, I received an entry on my Facebook page. It was sent by Mr. Babajide Orevba. He wrote to inform me that I had lost
a great fan. That fan was his father, Mr. Emmanuel Bamidele Orevba. The deceased, the son told me, was no politician, but had campaigned enthusiastically for my ticket. Tragically, overwhelmed by the joy of our victory, he collapsed, and passed on three days later. I pray God Almighty to grant his soul eternal rest.

16.    The success of the 2011 elections and the widespread acclaim which the exercise received was due to the uncommon patriotism and diligence exhibited by many Nigerians, including members of the Armed Forces, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and others. Unfortunately, despite the free, fair and transparent manner the elections were conducted, a senseless wave of violence in some parts of the country led to the death of ten members of the NYSC and others.  These brave men and women paid the supreme sacrifice in the service of our fatherland. They are heroes of our democracy. We offer our heartfelt prayers and condolences in respect of all those who lost their lives.

17.    In the days ahead, those of us that you have elected to serve must show that we are men and women with the patriotism and passion, to match the hopes and aspirations of you, the great people of this country.  We must demonstrate the leadership, statesmanship, vision, capacity, and sacrifice, to transform our nation. We must strengthen common grounds, develop new areas of understanding and collaboration, and seek fresh ideas, that will enrich our national consensus.

18.    It is the supreme task of this generation to give
hope to the hopeless, strength to the weak and protection to the defenceless.

19.    Fellow citizens, the leadership we have pledged is decidedly transformative.  The transformation will be achieved in all the critical sectors,
by harnessing the creative energies of our people.

20.    We must grow the economy, create jobs, and generate enduring happiness for our people. I have great confidence in the ability of Nigerians to transform this country.  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.

21.    My dear countrymen and women, being a Nigerian is a blessing. It is also a great responsibility. We must make a vow that, together, we will make the Nigerian Enterprise thrive.

22.    The leadership and the followership must strive to convert our vast human and natural resources into the force that leads to a greater Nigeria. The Nigeria of our dreams must be built on hard work and not on short cuts. Let me salute the Nigerian workers who build our communities, cities and country. They deserve fair rewards, and so do the women that raise our children, and the rural dwellers that grow our food.

23.    The moment is right. The signs are heart-warming. We are ready to take off on the path of sustained growth and economic development.  In our economic strategy, there will be appropriate policy support to the real sector of the economy, so that Small and Medium Enterprises may thrive. Nigeria is blessed with enormous natural wealth, and my Administration will continue to encourage locally owned enterprises to take advantage of our resources in growing the domestic economy.  A robust private sector is vital to providing jobs for our rapidly expanding population.  But this must be a collaborative effort.

24.    We must form technical and financial partnerships with global businesses and organizations. We live in an age where no country can survive on its own; countries depend on each other for economic well-being.  Nigeria is no different.  Returns on investment in Nigeria remain among the highest in the world. We will continue to welcome sustainable investment in our economy.

25.    We will push programs and policies that will benefit both local and foreign businesses, but we must emphasize mutual benefits and win-win relationships. The overall ongoing reforms in the banking and financial sectors are therefore designed to support the real sector of the economy.

26.    To drive our overall economic vision, the power sector reform is at the heart of our industrialization strategy. I call on all stakeholders, to cooperate with my administration, to ensure the success of the reforms.

27.    Over the next four years, attention will be focused on rebuilding our infrastructure. We will create greater access to quality education and improved health care delivery.  We will pay special attention to the agricultural sector, to enable it play its role of ensuring food security and massive job creation for our people. 

28.    The creation of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority will immensely contribute to strengthening our fiscal framework, by institutionalizing savings of our commodity-related revenues. With this mechanism in place, we will avoid the boom and bust cycles, and mitigate our exposure to oil price volatility.

29.    The lesson we have learnt is that the resolution of
the Niger Delta issue is crucial for the health of the nation's economy.  In the interest of justice, equity and national unity, we shall actively promote
the development of the region.  I believe that peace is a necessary condition for development.

30.    Fellow citizens, in every decision, I shall always place the common good before all else.  The bane of corruption shall be met by the overwhelming force of our collective determination, to rid our nation of this scourge. The fight against corruption is a war in which we must all enlist, so that the limited resources of this nation will be used for the growth of our common wealth. 

31.    I am confident that we have every reason to look to the future with hope.  We owe ourselves and posterity the duty of making this country respectable in the comity of nations. Nigeria, as a responsible member of the international community, will remain committed to the maintenance of global peace and security. We will
continue to play an active role in the United Nations. Our role in the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Gulf of Guinea will be enhanced to ensure greater human and energy security.

32.    Your Excellencies, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a new dawn for Africa. We fought for decolonization. We will now fight for democratization. 
Nigeria, in partnership with the African Union, will lead the process for democracy and development in Africa. In particular, we will support the consolidation of democracy, good governance and human rights in
the continent.  Africa must develop its vast resources to tackle poverty and under-development. 

33.    Conscious of the negative effect of insecurity on growth and development, my Administration will seek collaboration at bilateral and multilateral levels, to improve our capability in combating trans-border crimes. In this regard, we will intensify our advocacy against the illicit trades in small arms and light weapons, which have become the catalyst for conflicts on the African continent. All Nigerian diplomatic missions abroad are to accord this vision of defending the dignity of humanity the highest priority. 

34.    My fellow countrymen and women, Nigeria is not just a land of promise; it shall be a nation where positive change will continue to take place, for the good of our people.  The time for lamentation is over. This is the era of transformation.  This is the time for action. But Nigeria can only be transformed if we all play our parts with commitment and sincerity. Cynicism and skepticism will not help our journey to greatness. Let us all believe in a new Nigeria. Let us work together to build a great country that we will all be proud of.  This, is our hour.

35.    Fellow Compatriots, lift your gaze towards the horizon. Look ahead, and you will see a great future, that we can secure with unity, hard work and collective sacrifice.

36.    Join me now as we begin the journey of transforming Nigeria.
•    I will continue to fight, for your future, because I am one of you.
•    I will continue to fight, for improved medical care for all our citizens.
•    I will continue to fight for all citizens to have access to first class education.
•    I will continue to fight for electricity to be available to all our citizens.
•    I will continue to fight for an efficient and affordable public transport system for all our people.
•    I will continue to fight for jobs to be created through productive partnerships.

37.    You have trusted me with your mandate, and I will never, never let you down.

38.    I know your pain, because I have been there.  Look beyond the hardship you have endured. See a new beginning; a new direction; a new spirit.

39.    Nigerians, I want you to start to dream again.  What you see in your dreams, we can achieve together. I call upon all the Presidential candidates who contested with me to join hands with us as we begin the transformation of our country.

40.    Let us work together; let us build together; let us bequeath a greater Nigeria to the generations to come.

41.    I thank you! God bless you all! And God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Friday, May 27, 2011

LETTER TO PRESIDENT GOODLUCK

Dear President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,

May I first congratulate you on your victory at the concluded general election. Your election to the post of President to govern Nigeria for the next 4 years amidst many challenges from the cabal and majority ethnic groups is no small feat but an act that has been pre-ordained by the almighty God.


With regard to recent developments in various parts of the world where leaders have been removed by mass protests of the citizenry due to the inability of those leaders to meet the expectations of the people, it is a surprise that similar action has not been taking in Nigeria because if there is a country whose citizens are totally disappointed in their leaders, that country should be Nigeria. The people have been robbed of public funds, raped of their natural resources and have been abandoned to perish in their hopelessness. It may interest you to know that your government would be put on trial and would be tested like no other in the past, for the youth are restless and the old are impatient. The results of this test if positive would instill confidence in your person and if negative would lead to mass protests and your eventual disgrace by the people of Nigeria.


Having listened to many of your speeches and read a lot of your interviews, I am of the opinion that though you have expressed wonderful plans for moving our great country forward, the Nigerian people however would not judge you by your words but by your actions and your government would be rated based on the following issues namely; power generation, Job creation, economic growth, eradication of corruption, development of infrastructure, security, adherence to the rule of law and your personal integrity just to mention a few.


Many leaders have come in the past with flowery oratory and great promises but it is evident in the current state of the nation that they were all opportunists and scoundrels with no love for the nation even many of the so called activists fall within this purview. I do not believe you are a saint because experience has shown us Nigerians that no political leader can be trusted but I am willing to let you write in your handwriting what impressions you want to create in the hearts and minds of Nigerians.


As you get sworn in as the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a term of 4 years, I wish you all the best and God's speed. From a concerned Nigerian youth.


Adedunmade Onibokun



Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

UNSUNG HEROES

Some say Prof. Attahiru Jega is the hero of the past general elections held in Nigeria,his ability to organise and supervise successful and credible elections was an uphill task and he would always be remembered for it.

I on the other hand have different heroes in mind and they are the youth corpers who lost their lives in the post election violence. Imagine the joy of parents who have watched their kids grow from the 1st day they were born, imagine the pain and sacrifice,the commitment and prayers,the financial and mental calculations that it took to groom those boys and girls into fine gentlemen and ladies.

Though the government never contributed a penny into the education or upbringing of this wards,it however insisted that they serve their country in the NYSC scheme, graduates against their wishes were posted to communities all over the country,even those that lacked the basic social amenities and infrastructures.

So many corpers dedicated their lives to serving Nigeria only for them to be killed by the same country which they served. A few days ago, federal law makers petitioned the government to increase the amount of compensation paid to grieving families,however I ask,how much is enough?

How much would you pay the crying mother,the grieving father,the sad brother and sisters who would never see their loved ones again? Would money ever be able to bring back life or serve as a worthy replacement?

Our government must not continue to be non challant about such affairs,Nigerians are tired of receiving condolence messages from the office of the president,we deserve better,we deserve a thinking government,one that prevents problems rather than react to them. We need credible leadership not just ceremonial heads.

To the families of late NYSC members, to the corpers that lost property,to the corpers that would forever be scarred from their experiences, I pray somehow that God compensates you because He is the only one who can. This piece is dedicated to you all.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Education is key

On a weekday at about 10am,I once visited my mechanic to fix my car,I was surprised to see young boys who were supposed to be in school working as mechanics.

I was deeply hurt because I understood that they would rather be at school instead of screwing nuts and bolts. They would rather be learning mathematics instead of being covered in oil and dirt. Both of them are aged 11 and 13.

We live in a country where the government dedicates a little percent of its resources to education,I think that is very wrong. Don't we know that only educated youths can build a great nation.

The educational sector in Nigeria can never be given too much attention,we need to focus our resources on educating our youths in other to prepare a better future for the next generations.

In your own little way,help support those young boys and girls around you that have challenges in educating themselves,you would be saving a life and the country simultaneously.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

Friday, May 6, 2011

A NEW NIGERIAN IDEOLOGY

The World was surprised that the past election could be free and
fair,that Nigerians could come out in great numbers to vote,protect
their votes, shun violence, thuggery and bribery.

I on the other hand was very glad,for before our eyes a new Nigeria
was born,a new Nigeria where the people no longer condone mediocrity
and now demand dividends of Democracy from leaders.

Let all Nigerians take notice,it is not a time for a relaxed mood but
for continous engagement of government. God bless Nigeria and everyone
within it.