BY BASHIR ADEFAKA

IN line with his promise that 2013 would be better than 2012 for the citizenry, some prominent Nigerians have tasked President Goodluck Jonathan on fulfilling his promises.

A cross section of people, who spoke to Vanguard on the matter, said it was high time they began to hold their leaders accountable, in the event of any failure to deliver on a promise, stating that lack of performance by government at all levels had pushed Nigerians to the wall.

President Jonathan.

This situation, it was gathered might snowball into a dangerous war of survival or revolution if not addressed, some of them said.

Some respondents were disappointed that even if the military were to be blamed for the socio-economic woes of the country, 13 years of uninterrupted democratic rule was enough for the ruling class to bring about the desired change.

Speaking on the matter a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), argued that it was not proper to dismiss the president’s pledge.

“It’s improper to speculate. How can I speculate on whether he will truly make good his promise or not?  Those who are expressing the fear and distrust that he won’t do as he has promised, let them say whatever they want to say.  But for me, I have no view on that,” Akinjide said.

Similarly, the Lagos State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP called on Nigerians not to listen to the antics of those who do not see anything good in the present administration.

Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Gani Taofeeq, who said this, warned that revolution was not anything any patriotic Nigerian should consider.

He also expressed hope that the present administration had shown enough political will to tackle insecurity and other challenges  in the country.

It is improper to speculate failure
Spokesperson of the Save Nigeria Group, SNG, Mr. Yinka Odumakin had a contrary view. He said there was nothing he could remember that the government achieved in 2012 for which it should be praised.

“Bombings, subsidy embezzlement; you know the Faruk Lawan/Femi Otedola saga.  All these were caused by corruption.  In 2012, people suffered a lot; no food, no job.  It was hard.  Nothing was achieved in 2012 that I can remember quickly that we can praise the government for.  One thing that I can say make me happy is that, nobody was reported to have committed suicide in spite of everything,” he noted.

Meanwhile, a prominent member of the opposition, who pleaded anonymity  compared Jonathan’s  administration with President Umar Yar’Adua’s and said the President  lacked the  political will to move Nigeria forward.

“What manner of country has ours been turned into?!  I’m sure that if Yar’Aua had not died, Nigeria would by now be much better.  He was said to be slow but he was also noted for being steady even as slow as he was.  Because he was making progress in removing the hands of the so-called mafia from their grip on the nation’s socio-economic and political development so much that even Obasanjo that imposed him never really had his ears,” he noted.

Continuing he said, ” Yar’Adua did not only stabilise the economy and halt the activities of militants in the Niger Delta but also, he admittedly said he knew that the process that brought him into power as president was fraudulent but that he was going to do all within his powers to correct the process and encourage a better electoral process that would allow for truly free and fair elections with a view to producing the leader of Nigerians’ dream.”