President Goodluck Jonathan has told the opposition and all the people that criticise his administration for non-performance, saying that he will be the most praised president of the country at the end of his tenure in office.
Mr Jonathan said this while speaking at the opening of the 52nd annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holding in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday.
The president wondered why the first 12 months of his administration has been awashed with criticisms over problems and challenges that he did not create, and reiterated his resolve to transform the country.
He pointed at the reforms taking place in the power sector, and other infrastructure, reminding the critics that transformation does not come with a wave of the hand.
The theme for this year’s NBA’s conference is “Nigeria as Emerging Market: Redefining our law’s and politics for growth”.
Emerging after 50 years
Matthew Kukah delivered the keynote address on Nigeria as an emerging democracy at the NBA conference.
The clergy in his speech wondered why after 50 years of independence, Nigerians are still talking about the emergence of the nation.
He said that things are not walking because Nigerians have refused to understand where they are coming from and he called on all Nigerians to overcome ethnic colouration in all they do.
The outgoing president of the NBA, Joseph Daudu decried the state of the nation especially insecurity in the land and the NBA’s position on the call for state police.
There was a mild protest at the entrance of the International Conference Center, venue for the 52nd lawyers’ conference, by lawyers, who could not gain entry into the venue.
The lawyers protested what they called the high fees charged by the authorities of the NBA leadership.