By EMMA UJAH, Abuja Bureau Chief
ABUJA—AGAINST the backdrop of report that a governor-elect had directed banks to freeze the accounts of the state government pending the May 29 handover date, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday charged the governors-elect not to stampede the out-going governors out of office by their conduct as they remain in power until they hand over.

The President-elect at a symposium organized for the governors_elect at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, yesterday, described as “disturbing”, reports of governors_elect who were acting as if they had taken over the administration of their states, insisting, that “the serving governors have the constitutional mandate to run the affairs of the States till May 29, 2011.”

The symposium yesterday, lived up to its billing. The expectation on the faces of participants was palpable. Succinctly, it could be summed thus: They expect all elected officials to hit the ground running immediately they are sworn-in to actualise people-oriented projects that will raise the welfare of Nigerians.

Fulfilling campaign promises

President Goodluck Jonathan (fifth left) with Chief Emeka Anyaoku (sixth left), Maitama Sule (seventh left), Rev. Fr. Matthew Kukah (third left), SGF Yayale Ahmed (second left); some former and serving state governors and governors-elect; during the 2011 induction/symposium organised by the Nigeria Governors' Forum at the State House, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: State House

And the participants including eminent Nigerians and leaders of international institutions did not mince words in telling newly elected leaders including President Goodluck Jonathan and governors-elect to fulfil their campaign promises, combat graft, create jobs and provide infrastructures.

While challenging incoming state executives to give priority to security of lives and property, the President noted that the time to tolerate impunity had passed.

He said: “As political leaders, we must be in the forefront of preaching peace and harmony, not violence. On my part, I want to assure you of the Federal Government’s preparedness to avail you of all the requisite support at all times. I have consistently reiterated that the culture of impunity will no longer be tolerated in any part of the country. For me this is an article of faith. We cannot allow unpatriotic elements to distract us from the task of diligently facing up to Nigeria’s developmental challenges.”

The president who reiterated his resolve to be fair to all Nigerians in the next four years, said: “At the centre, I will continue to run a Nigerian government that will be totally committed to handling Nigerian problems without sentiment or bias.”

Renewed resolve and courage

He, therefore, tasked all elected political leaders across the country to justify the mandate given to them by the electorate and work towards enhancing their welfare and living conditions, stressing: “The times call for renewed resolve and renewed courage as we face up to the sundry developmental and economic challenges confronting our nation.”

Also speaking, Coordinator of United Nations systems in Nigeria, Mr. Dauda Toure, applauded the peaceful and fair conduct of the April general elections, stating that the United Nations would continue to partner with Nigeria towards addressing the needs of the masses.

He said that the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki_Moon, would visit Nigeria from Sunday to Tuesday next week to confer with President Jonathan and political stakeholders on strengthening democratic structures in the country.

Elder statesman, and former Nigerian Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Alhaji Maitama Sule, called on leaders at all levels to continually champion the virtues of love and peaceful co-existence among the citizenry. He commended President Jonathan for achieving the conduct of peaceful and orderly polls in April, which he noted were “comparatively credible,” adding: “With good leadership as portrayed by Mr. President, there will be love in this country.”

Mixture of new breed and old breed

Sule said he believed that Nigeria needed a mixture of the old and new people in governance, noting that “new breed without old breed will breed greed.”

He said: “I remain optimistic that by the grace of God, change will come and as I begin to see light at the end of the tunnel, I believe we can still make it. Things can change, things are changing and I am beginning to see the change. We need peace. I see no reason why religion and tribalism should stand in our ways. No religion advocates coercion because the essence of every religion is love.”

Similarly, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Emeka Anyaoku and Reverend Father Matthew Hassan Kukah urged the newly elected officials to eschew corruption and work towards the development of the country.
Chief Anayaoku and Rev. Kukah said that Nigeria had been left behind by its peers in the early 1960s at the comity of nations owing largely to corruption by her leaders.

Specifically, Chief Anyaoku called for a shift from public announcement of the award of contracts to progress report on completion of projects awarded by the government. He described lack of project monitoring as one of the factors responsible for abandoned projects all over the country. Kukah, on his part, urged President Jonathan and his team to address the critical Nigerian question with a view to ensuring permanent peace, which is critical to socio-economic development in the nation.

Out-going governor of Kwara State and chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said the forum was organised to afford new and returning governors the opportunity to share their leadership experiences with their peers, and deepen the nation’s democratic experience.

World Bank, DFID task governors on job creation, people oriented projects

Meanwhile, the World Bank and the United Kingdom (UK) Department of Foreign and International Development, DFID, yesterday, challenged governors of the 36 states of the Federation to do away with projects that benefit a few and direct their energies toward improving the lives of the ordinary citizens.

In their goodwill messages at the event, World Bank Country Representative, Onno Ruhl, urged the elected leaders to focus their attention on people-oriented projects that would capture the needs of the common man. Rhul, who applauded the passage of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, SWF, bill into law by the National Assembly, said the establishment of the fund would ensure that resources were available for the development of  needed infrastructures in the country.

He said: “First lesson from the country’s election is that you must capture the aspirations and the mandate allows you to move this country to the next level. Nigeria is now ready to takeoff. Since the National Assembly has passed the Sovereign Wealth Fund it means that you now have enough resources to provide the necessary infrastructures that is needed for effective development.”

Country Director of the DFID, Richard Montgomery, said the forum must focus attention on job creation, improving internally generated revenue, help businesses flourish as well as remove barriers that stunt business growth.
He said: “I want to pick up two issues that I feel are critical for the leadership in this room to convert to result.

First is social and economic inclusion and second is public financial management that is your budget. We all know that Nigeria is a land of opportunity but also laced with great challenges but you all know the issue of preventable maternal deaths, over 100 million Nigerians are estimated to live below $1.25 a day; over four and half million young people enter the job market every year, so creating jobs for them is a top priority for Nigeria’s growth and sustainability.”