External factors and local impediments tried
to scuttle President Goodluck Jonathan's
ambition of repositioning the country in the
first two years of his administration, a book
edited by the Minister of Petroleum
Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke has
stated.
In the book titled, "Goodluck Ebele Jonathan:
Champion of Women," the minister also said
Jonathan was neither a weak nor indecisive
president.
It said the psyche of Nigerians who held that
view had been affected by long years of
military rule that made them believe that
leaders must be aggressive.
It added that with his consuming passion for
the progress of the country, there was no
doubt that the President was leading Nigeria
to a good place.
The book was presented on Wednesday at a
mid-term presidential dinner held as part of
activities marking the second anniversary of
Jonathan's administration.
Although the book did not identify the
"external factors" that compounded the
administration's woes, it listed the activities
of members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko
Haram, in the North and kidnappers in the
South as some of the local impediments.
It added that it was impossible for the
Federal Government to separate the external
factors from local impediments.
According to the book, technological
advancements including the use of mobile
phones contributed to the problems.
It stated that the first two years of Jonathan
in the saddle of affairs were full of
threatening challenges capable of making the
President lose focus.
The book said however, the challenges made
the President more inspired to steer the ship
of the nation to a safe haven.
The book read, "The first two years of
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan's
administration were met with tough, even
threatening challenges.
"The Boko Haram insurgence in the North
and the spate of callous kidnappings in the
South could quite easily have shifted all
focus away from the President's clearly
outlined transformation agenda.
"Ironically, however, the President seems
even more inspired to steer the ship of the
state to a safe point where the dignity of
every Nigerian is preserved; a point where
our right to contribute to productive
decision-making is assured, where our
balance of payment is no longer in deficit,
where we do not consume more than we
produce, where every Nigerian can boast a
healthy standard of living, where our women
take centre stage in the whole process of
social and economic transformation.
"While the local impediments to the
President's ambitions are unrelenting,
external factors have compounded the
matter further, making it impossible to
separate one from the other.
"We now live in a world where a click of
your mobile phone takes you to the global
marketplace. This may seem adventurous and
exciting to some, but the impact on the local
market is incalculable."
While reeling out some of the achievements
of the administration in two years, the book
stated that Jonathan was determined to fulfil
all his electoral promises in the lifespan of
his administration.
It described the President as an honourable
man who had always been reluctant to say in
public what he did not plan to put into
practice.
According to the book, Jonathan is already
on course to deliver in excess of his
commitments across all sectors of the
economy.
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