<\/p>\n
We have noted with surprise, The Economist\u2019s tongue-in-cheek endorsement<\/p>\n
of General Muhammadu Buhari in the run-up to Nigeria\u2019s general elections<\/p>\n
and the international magazine\u2019s baseless, jaundiced and rather malicious<\/p>\n
vilification of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who retains the trust<\/p>\n
and confidence of majority of Nigerians as the outcome of the Presidential<\/p>\n
elections will undoubtedly show.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
We are sure that many Nigerians and other readers of the usually urbane,<\/p>\n
thoughtful and well-reasoned editorial opinions of the Economist will be<\/p>\n
shocked that the magazine has taken the very ill-considered decision to<\/p>\n
throw its weight behind a candidate who, as a former military dictator,<\/p>\n
curtailed freedom of speech, ordered the kidnapping of opponents and<\/p>\n
jailing of journalists,\u00a0 and\u00a0 is accused of incitement to violence and<\/p>\n
grave human rights violations in Nigeria\u2019s current democratic<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Economist may feign ignorance of President Jonathan\u2019s remarkable<\/p>\n
achievements as leader of his country in the past six years, but Nigerians<\/p>\n
who, unlike the magazine\u2019s opinion writers, will actually vote in the<\/p>\n
country\u2019s forthcoming presidential elections, know that President Jonathan<\/p>\n
has worked very hard to fulfill all the major promises he made to them on<\/p>\n
assumption of office.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Nigerians know that President Jonathan has developed our economy and<\/p>\n
created more jobs, they know that he has given policy support to the real<\/p>\n
sector of the economy, so that Small and Medium Enterprises can thrive,<\/p>\n
they know that he has encouraged locally owned enterprises to take<\/p>\n
advantage of our resources in growing the domestic economy and they also<\/p>\n
know that he has successfully attracted greater foreign direct investment<\/p>\n
to the country.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Unlike the clearly poorly informed and distant authors of the Economist<\/p>\n
Opinion titled \u201cThe Least Awful\u201d, appreciative Nigerians are also aware<\/p>\n
that President Jonathan has worked tirelessly to improve power supply<\/p>\n
across the nation, rebuild and expand national infrastructure, improve<\/p>\n
public transportation and provide greater access to quality education for<\/p>\n
all Nigerian youth.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They know very well too that President Jonathan has significantly improved<\/p>\n
healthcare services in the country, revolutionized agriculture, promoted<\/p>\n
gender equality and women empowerment, and done his very best to stem<\/p>\n
corruption in government.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Contrary to the Economist\u2019s assertions, Nigeria, under President Jonathan<\/p>\n
has made very considerable progress.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In spite of the significant challenges of terrorism and insurgency the<\/p>\n
nation faces today,\u00a0 President Jonathan has ensured that Nigeria has<\/p>\n
become\u00a0 a more vibrant democracy with\u00a0 free media, an independent<\/p>\n
judiciary, free, fair and credible elections, and greater respect for<\/p>\n
human rights.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Economist is entitled to its erroneous opinion on who represents the<\/p>\n
best leadership option for Nigeria in the coming elections, but happily<\/p>\n
for the country, it is not the magazine\u2019s lead writers, but\u00a0 more<\/p>\n
knowledgeable and patriotic Nigerians who actually work and live in the<\/p>\n
country, that will vote and re-elect President Jonathan for a second\u00a0 term<\/p>\n
in office.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They will do so, because unlike the Economist\u2019s opinion writers, they<\/p>\n
understand that a Buhari Presidency will, for their beloved country,<\/p>\n
represent a stark setback and retrogression\u00a0 from the tremendous ongoing<\/p>\n
positive transformation of Nigeria under President Jonathan\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Reuben Abati<\/p>\n
Special Adviser to the President<\/p>\n
(Media & Publicity)<\/p>\n
February 6, 2015<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We have noted with surprise, The Economist\u2019s tongue-in-cheek endorsement of General Muhammadu Buhari in the run-up to Nigeria\u2019s general elections and the international magazine\u2019s baseless, jaundiced and rather malicious…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":35659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n