N1b FOOD BILL: Nigerians Condemn Jonathan, Sambo

Nigerians have condemned the N992 million cost of feeding and entertainment for President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Namadi Sambo, contained in the 2012 budget.

Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay described the food bill as “insane.” He said, among other things, that “it is a sign of the country’s lack of development. Our leaders do not know what to do without attracting public opprobrium; it is very sad.”

National Publicity Secretary of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Kayode Fashakin said Jonathan’s government “is not serious about giving us good governance. This government has come to punish Nigerians; it has come, not to soothe our pains, it is a government that is playing the game according to the dictates of the IMF and the World Bank.”

Civil Rights campaigner, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin pointed out that the Jonathan administration was only interested in impoverishing Nigerians.

Okei-Odumakin, who is President of Campaign for Democracy, CD stated: “This President is anti-people. People must brace up. If not they will continue to amass wealth and keep them in perpetual poverty.”

Chief Emma Eneukwu, National Publicity Secretary, All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP condemned the controversial food bill. Eneukwu said the action was self-centered and coming when the president had concluded arrangements to remove subsidy from oil. “The budget should tell Nigerians that the president does not have any focus. He is there to while away the time.”

Some P.M.NEWS readers who read the story commented on our website. Kolawole Lawal described the bill as “authorities stealing. Where are we heading to? This is incredible. Now you want to remove fuel subsidy, you want to inflict pains and hardship on the masses. We did not bargain for this when we were canvassing for votes. Enough is enough. Nigerian workers are suffering, the masses are suffering. To implement minimum wage has been a subject for over one year now, yet nothing is done to relieve the masses and working class the agonies of poor pay. GEJ should act fast before the masses begin to regret voting for him and his party as their choice.

Another commentator who simply identified himself as Demola wrote: ”This country is finished. Anyway, I won’t blame them. It is the fools that voted them into office that I blame. We warned them but they did not hear. You have not seen anything yet. They are just there to milk us dry. One thing is sure, everything that has a beginning must have an end. To the fools that voted them in, it serves you all right. You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Another reader, Michael wrote: “Why are people complaining about these food budget? I’m sure they don’t know that the presidency is trying to cut down cost as much as possible to help us (Nigerians). I will suggest the food budget be reviewed upward to N10b. Afterall, their rice, yam, palm oil, water, okporoko, red snapper fish, barracuda fish, grasscutter meat, antelope, snail, periwinkle, bitter leaf, water leaf, melon, tomatoes, etc are pure gold imported from other countries. What a contradiction. How can the presidency be budgeting for generator, fueling and maintenance? The simple meaning is that the power system has approved design for failure and unavailability. The presidency, ministries, government offices ought not to have generators, inverters or solar panel at all. Then, we will know that they are serious about making power available. The labour of our heroes’ past, shall never be in vain.”

In his own comment, a reader, Aka wrote: “It means there will be no power from PHCN in 2012. But they purchased N400m kitchen equipment in 2009/2010. My wife is still on the ones we bought just before our wedding in 2000. Didn’t they eat in their houses? How can I explain to my boys that fathers are stealing?”

A reader, Followtruth, “GEJ budgeted N553 million for his kitchen equipment, N1.2 billion furniture allowance and N1.57 million daily on food. That tells you how wasteful and fraudulent our so-called leaders are. They keep telling us to be patient and eat cassava bread daily while they live in unbelievable and extremely questionable luxury.”

Boli Atepa wrote: “This is the most interesting part of the budget. From year to year, how much they literally eat, as opposed to how much do they “eat.” You chop, I chop.”

Obasanjoti wrote: “A man who wants to spend N1b to eat in a year, the train of revolution will hit you one of these days. Do you want to eat human beings as meat everyday? God shall surely punish you.”

Agborandun commented: “GEJ, do you remember where you started from? Spending about N1 billion on food just in a single year is sheer wickedness. Truly, we have no leaders but rulers in this country. Please, GEJ, remember what befell some African rulers. Repent and do what heaven will be happy about. He who has an ear to hear, let him hear. A word is enough for the wise.”

A reader, Tim wrote: “N1 billion on food/entertainment alone for two officials, and they want to remove about N500b fuel subsidy for 140 million Nigerians? Lord have mercy.”