We have noted with concern, the allegation by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed that officials of the Federal Government are engaged in “last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service”.
We also consider as most unfortunate and uncharitable, the suggestion by Alhaji Mohammed that the Jonathan
Administration is trying to “tie the hands” of the incoming government merely by continuing to discharge its constitutional responsibilities until the end of its tenure.
The
Jonathan Administration which continues to do its best to ensure a
smooth and peaceful handover over of power to the President-Elect,
General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative
frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed’s statement.
President
Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his
constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective
leadership of the nation.
Without any prejudice whatsoever to
the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within
the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan
Administration will continue to discharge its responsibility to govern
until May 29, 2015.
In
continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office however, President
Jonathan has not, and will never condone any form of unscrupulous
conduct on the part of state officials.
President Jonathan
will also never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the
incoming administration as the APC spokesperson, who ought to know that
the outcome of the March 28 presidential elections does not imply a
cessation of governance, unjustly alleges.
As Alhaji Mohammed
threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be
perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present
government as it may deem fit.
We see nothing wrong with that.
After all, the present Administration reviewed the actions of previous
governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy
and project implementation.
President Jonathan is also deeply
concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still
has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20
Billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure.
To
lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of
the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic
Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter.
Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 27, 2015
