Nigerians have been called upon to use the opportunity of this year’s Eid-el-Fitri celebration to reflect on how to contribute more to the development of the nation and live peacefully as brothers and sisters.
Speaking to Eminent Leaders magazine at his residence in Abuja, Abdulfatah Agunleti, a PDP stalwart, social commentator and public analyst shared optimism of a better Nigeria and declares that the second term ambition of President Jonathan is more of divine and already a done deal, as he chides opposition to desist from denigrating the office of the President through chicanery and name calling.
Agunleti said “My appeal goes to all Muslim faithful to use the opportunity of this Ramadan to reflect on how to coexist peacefully as brothers and sisters, not minding our religious background. I appeal also to politicians not to sacrifice our togetherness on the platter of ambition. Only God crowns a leader and not by anybody’s individual strength.”
Commenting on the state of the nation and next year’s Presidential election, he said “Sincerely speaking, the only way the opposition can get to power right now in Nigeria is through the backdoor and not through the ballot. To me the so called oppositions are not prepared for the task to move us forward.”
“I am really not comfortable with the utterances and actions of most of our politicians especially when it comes to criticism of President Jonathan. Yes criticism is good and opposition is very relevant in democracy but when the Office of the President is been ridiculed by even those aspiring to occupy same office, then there is need to exercise restraint, as that office is a symbol of our nationhood. It is an institution that is even greater than the occupant and should be accorded due respect.”
“When it comes to criticism, the moment I opened my mouth and criticize, it means I have and know of a better workable options than what you have done. Criticism that emanates through bitterness can only be destructive and can never be helpful to the system especially when it comes to politics and governance.”
Speaking further, “APC has always been quick to put the blame of the country on the doorsteps of PDP having presenting Presidents since the inception of this democratic dispensation. If that is right, then what is the rationale behind the move by APC to coopt all the founding fathers of PDP in their move to salvage Nigeria? Why is it that the only people they look up to for direction in their “Roadmap to Power” are those of PDP extraction? They went, in the full glare of the whole world, begging Obasanjo and Amaechi to show them the way. Have they forgotten so soon that Obasanjo and Amaechi were founding members of PDP and both like many others cannot be exonerated from any ills that might have befallen the country if PDP is the problem?”
“Looking at the opposition critically, what exactly have they offered in the various states where they administered so far? The so called achievements of the defunct ACN is quickly been eroded in Lagos State because they have lost focus. BRT is fast becoming a thing of the past. In Ekiti State, APC recorded grave loss at the polls in a Tsunamic manner. They lost 16-0. The pressure is on them in Osun where the only thing their candidate can lure the masses with is a “Free Train Ride” from Osogbo to Lagos in order to get votes, yet that train was one of Jonathan’s revolutions. I’ll leave the achievements of Jonathan for another discourse.”
“Right now there is nothing the opposition can point to as their own achievements in the states that can really serve as a hallmark of good governance or leadership. The only tool available to them now is lies upon lies in the media.”
“I stand to be corrected, Jonathan as President or not will never tell a widow being victimized by agents of government to ‘go and die’ only an APC governor is capable of that. It is only the APC and its leaders that will be going into an election threatening fire and brimstone, blood for blood, as if they are going to war, for Jonathan, no single blood of any Nigerian is worth being shed for anybody’s ambition.”
“PDP lost in Ondo, we took it with good faith, same in Anambra just because a President who do not believe in “do or die” election administers, but I put it to other opposition parties to tell the world how many of all the local government elections conducted in their state has another opposition won?”
“Any opposition built on hypocrisy and falsehood cannot stand the test of time and that is why the opposition has found it too enormous a task to destroy the one they termed clueless.”
“So far, they have nothing to parade that will show their capability to take us to our Eldorado. Nothing have they done and nothing they are capable of but mere blackmail, name calling and propaganda.”
“A virile opposition could have used the states they administer to prove a point that they have something in stock giving the opportunity of a whole geopolitical zone to demonstrate that but they falter.”
“To me the crop of opposition available in our political settings right now is just a handful of power mongers that have failed to impact positively on just six states yet vigorously pursuing, their dream of cornering the wealth of the nation the more, to administer the whole 36 states of the federation. Should that dream be actualized, the task of nation building will definitely be too overwhelming for them and in the end disastrous.”
“Nigeria will be great, even greater than any of us could fathom and to get there can only be a concerted effort where better options are put on the table for all to see. Give or take, Jonathan and PDP is still the best available and I don’t see that changing before the next election. The opposition have gifted him the 2nd term and they should blame themselves for not doing their homework very well.”
