The Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, has insisted that the President has handled the affairs of the country very well and remains focused to fulfil his New Year promises to Nigerians.

Abati said on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ that at the begin of 2013, the President promised that all the successes he achieved in the previous year would be consolidated upon in 2013, and that he has done creditably well.

Speaking from the Abuja studio of Channels TV, Dr Abati referred to 2013 as a productive year for the country in infrastructure development. He cited several achievements of the administration, with ongoing and completed projects in transportation, aviation, including the dredging of the River Niger.

He also noted that many companies are already benefitting from the development, as cement companies have started transporting their goods via the railway system.

The Presidential Spokesman also cited the aviation sector as one in which the President scores high in infrastructure development as many airports are being rehabilitated and constructed.

As expected, the power sector privatisation was also lauded by Dr Abati, as he boasted that the process has been adjudged transparent, efficient and open by many international bodies; a testimony to the efficiency of President Goodluck Jonathan, with promises that in 2014 there would be more efficiency.

He was however asked to clarify the news that a Canadian firm wanting to construct the fast rail system in Nigeria has not been well embraced by the Jonathan administration, Abati chose to answer this with the ratings of Nigeria’s investor friendly status globally.

He stated that for any company saying there had been no success in its quest to invest in Nigeria, if they are qualified they would be successful, adding  that Manitoba Hydro is a Canadian company that is doing business in Nigeria.

Abati also reacted to questions in the media about the decision of the government to revive the Nigerian railway system after 17 years of its death by bringing the old locomotive system back, when the world is moving past such technology.

He argued that when President Jonathan came on board, the railway system was comatose, “so what we did was to rehabilitate what existed”. He claimed that there are still plans to upgrade and modernize. He also said that the Lagos-Ibadan Express road project is a proof of Jonathan’s commitment to making things easier for Nigerians.

Dr Abati also shared his views on education, and the government’s sensitivity to labour unions with examples made of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA.

He warned that they (unions) should show understanding because “at the end of the day this is about our country and people should not politicize issues.” He insisted that the President is serious about his New Year statement that all efforts to pick on the initiatives of his administration will not discourage him.

Abati also noted that the criticisms in the 18-page open letter from former president, Olusegun Obasanjo to President Jonathan have been addressed by the President himself in the first paragraph of his reply.

He added that the open reply would not have been necessary because most of the issues have been discussed by both men since Obasanjo has been a regular visitor to President Jonathan, but the reply became only necessary based on demand.

He insisted “He will not be distracted as he has said” adding that the widely reported 7% economic growth and Stock Market growth are proofs that the administration was focused.

Speaking further, Dr Abati said that 2013 was also a lucky year in Nigeria even in sports as the country won many laurels and also was voted into the Security Council of the United Nations, which shows that the international community has high regards for the country.

He added that even the crisis from his own party, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, would not affect the business of governance.

No Need To Continue

In a twist, Legal Practitioner, Ebun Adegorowa, who joined the programme from the Lagos studio went hard on Dr Abati’s claims of many successes and berated the Presidential Spokesman for his contradictory claims.

He said that Abati spoke as if he was talking about another country, as he wondered where the claimed developments existed.

“All projects are ongoing and you say cement companies are already benefitting”

He cited the problems in the aviation sector as getting worse, and the power situation becoming a case of “no power”.

Adegorowa, , in deflating Abati’s claims, reeled out his own list of international ratings in which Nigeria has been rated to have been woeful in leadership, corruption and economic development.

He wondered why Abati would mention football which has no relevance to the survival of the average Nigerian as part of the achievement of his boss.

He argued that if the only thing President Jonathan is interested in is holding on to power, then there is no need to continue.

Speaking further, he berated the administration’s attitude to the fight against corruption. He asked, “When EFCC has just 2 million in his account how will it fight corruption?”

“President Jonathan has failed us and he has no reason to continue”

In a swift dramatic response, Abati condemned Adegorowa for “just throwing tantrums” speaking out of ignorance as his arguments lacked information and knowledge. He claimed that he should be the one wondering if Ebun lived in the country.

Although Dr Abati took time to tackle all issues raised by Mr Adegorowa, Adegorowa insisted that if Obasanjo says he (Jonathan) has no idea, then he should be taken seriously.

Dr Abati while commenting on Adegorowa’s allegation that President Jonathan is not showing real commitment to fighting corruption in Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah’s case, said that an allegation does not amount to truth, it has to be proven and people cannot just be punished based on allegation.

He added that the House of Representatives has handled the matter and the President has also set up a 3-man panel to look into it; an action Adegorowa referred to as a way of avoiding responsibility.

Mr Ebun Adegorowa concluded by saying that  President Jonathan is living on a borrowed time as he did not believe that he could do anything for Nigeria. He stressed that the desperately convened National Conference aimed at getting support for his 2015 ambition would not help him.

He explained that with the current situation whereby Jonathan is losing support with many of his party members “porting” to the opposition as he is fast losing the majority in the National Assembly, he cannot be focused on work.

He added that when he (the President) had full support he did not perform, let alone when he is losing his supporters. He advised that he should “just pack up” and leave.