Okupe slams critics of Jonathan’s October 1 Broadcast

Nnamdi Felix &Ayo Oluokun / Abuja

Following criticisms by a section of the public that the Independence Day broadcast by President Goodluck Jonathan was bereft of verifiable statistics on the claimed success his transformation agenda, the Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, on Tuesday briefed the media to further expantiate on a number of salient policy statements contained in the Independence Day broadcast.

He stated that the key component of the transformation agenda is to engender social trust, good governance, credible elections, accountability and transparency, rule of law and guaranteed improved quality of life as the basis of the social contract between the government and the citizens.

He praised the President for his outstanding achievement in the enthroning an enduring democracy as Nigeria is now nationally and internationally acclaimed to be free and fair and noted that the serious import of this change, which he said may be easily taken for granted, is that under the old order in Nigeria, opposition candidates like Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state and Governor Segun Mimiko of Ondo state, stood no chance of possible re election even though they may be popular. He stated that the President has reduced the fear of manipulation of electoral process in favour of the party in control at the centre to the barest minimum.

Okupe also stated that for the first time in Nigeria, under President Jonathan, that significant contribution to the nation’s gross domestic product, GDP, is coming from services, telecoms and especially agriculture. “Agriculture today is being elevated as a sector that can provide the much desired transformation through transfer of wealth to rural communities, farmers and their families” he added.

He also stated that the increase input to GDP from non oil sector for the month of July, 2012 stood at N178.9 billion, approximately 26%. He also heaped praises on the President for the improvement in the power sector and affirmed that by the month of December, or early 2013, that Nigeria will generate over 7000 megawatts of electricity and that many Nigerian communities will enjoy uninterrupted power supply of 16 hours per day and more.

The loquacious presidential aide also took the opportunity to blast critics of his principal for the uncharitable comments which are often personal but praised the national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu whom he said, never attacked the President personally at a recent lecture he delivered in the United State of America. He noted that Tinubu restricted his criticisms on government policies which is how opposition works.

Dr Doyin Okupe added that increasing Boko Haram attacks necessitated the need to increase security around the President.

He was reacting to the addition of an extra 176 Special Forces battalion to the Brigade of Guards at the Presidential Villa on Monday

“We are dealing with a very serious sect. I am surprised that people are asking that why the President is assuring that his security is beefed up”, said Okupe.

“Under this circumstance, the President is the commander-in-chief, when you go to war; the commander-in-chief is the one in charge. The fact that the security in the villa is beefed up is because of necessity and circumstances”, he added.

Okupe also told journalists that Nigeria has recorded a lot of progress under President Jonathan.

The presidential aide however agreed all was not well between the President and the members of the National Assembly.