African Spotlight Spotlighting Africans at Home and Abroad
By Samuel K. Obour
One of the world’s foremost economists, Professor George Ayittey has lashed out at the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), describing him as “a joke” and a mediocre President after his (GEJ’s) encounter with the media last night.
According to Professor Ayittey, Nigeria “deserves a better leader”, judging by GEJ’s poor, almost unfortunate responses to some of the questions posed to him by the Nigerian media last night. The Professor indicated that GEJ’s refusal to declare his assets and his failure to tackle the Boko Haram crisis suggest that he is of an unsound mind.
He therefore called on Nigerians to rid themselves of GEJ as soon as possible. He said: “Nigerians should not put up with such mediocrity and should mount a RECALL GEJ campaign. They should check Chapter VI of their Constitution. See Sections 143 and 144 about removing the President and Vice-President from office other than through elections”. “137; 1c: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind.”
Professor Ayittey, a Ghanaian economist, author, president of the Free Africa Foundation in Washington DC, professor at American University, and an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, made this known on twitter this morning. Read the entire tweet below:
Professor George Ayittey
“Look, this GEJ guy is a joke – a meretricious mediocrity. Nigerians deserve a better leader. Fancy his statements and responses to questions in a media chat on June 24, 2012:
• He has not visited Borno state, the center of Boko Haram attacks, because the airport there was not functional at the time he planned to visit. “And we did not want to land somewhere and fly in to Maiduguri with a helicopter for obvious reasons.”
[Why is the airport not functioning? Why hasn’t it been fixed? And are there no ROADS into Borno State?]• Asked why he had not declared his assets, Mr. Jonathan replied in an impatient tone, stating “I don’t give a damn” about declaration of assets. He related that he had gone to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to caution “that we should not play to the hands of some people [by openly declaring their assets].” Mr. Jonathan added, “That is a matter of principle and I am not going to declare. It is not the president declaring his asset that will end Boko Haram.” • The president said it’s a matter of principle and whether he is criticised from “head to toe” he will not declare his assets. “It is not right,” he said. “I didn’t want even want to declare my assets as VP” but was forced by the then president, Umara Musa Yar’Adua. He said asset declaration is “not the right thing to do.”
[Damn it, it is a constitutional requirement to declare your assets, Mr. President. See Chapter VI, Part 1, Section 140 of Nigeria’s Constitution: “Declaration of assets and liabilities, oaths of President.” And what the hell has Boko Haram got to do with declaration of assets?]• Agriculture: The president said his government is revolutionizing agriculture in Nigeria.”We are giving cotton seeds free in the North” he said.
[This is the most crass definition of an “agricultural revolution” – by providing free seeds.]• The President said the government is doing very well in railway construction. “You may not know, but we are working,” he said. He added that his government has made a “significant progress” in railway construction. “You should commend us,” he adds.
[What “significant progress” has been made in railway construction? How many Nigerians are working on railway construction with the contract given to Chinese firms?]• UNILAG name change: The president said what he did, in terms of law, was correct. You change the name first, then send the bill to the National Assembly later, he argues. “What we did, was the normal procedure,” he said.
[No, Mr. Presient, you had it backward. Before you change the name of University of Lagos (UNILAG), you consult with the university and the student body, which you did NOT do.]• Crude Oil Theft: “The stealing of crude oil is a Nigerian phenomenon,” the president said. He adds that it has gone cancerous. “We will stop it, but it is like allowing a cancerous cell to grow into a major tumor.”
[Mr. President, theft of crude oil is a CRIME, not a “Nigerian phenomenon or a disease afflicting Nigerians. Describing it that way means you are CLUELESS about how to solve it.]Nigerians should not put up with such mediocrity and should mount a RECALL GEJ campaign. They should check Chapter VI of their Constitution. See Sections 143 and 144 about removing the President and Vice-President from office other than through elections.
137; 1c: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind.” Link: http://bit.ly/MSxUws ”
Professor Ayittey holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon, an M.A. from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba. He has taught at Wayne State College and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. He held a National Fellowship at the Hoover Institution in 1988-89, and then joined The Heritage Foundation as a Bradley Resident Scholar.
He founded The Free Africa Foundation in 1993, to serve as a catalyst for reform in Africa. In 2008 Dr. Ayittey was listed by Foreign Policy as one of the “Top 100 Public Intellectuals” who “are shaping the tenor of our time”. He lives in Lorton, Virginia. What do you make of his comments? Is Professor Ayittey justified in his criticism of GEJ?
You can follow me on twitter @SamuelObour. Follow Professor Ayittey @Ayittey
Source: SaharaReporers
I do agree with all that the Ghanaian professor said about President Goodluck Jonathan. It’s a shame that he is the second foreigner lambasting our number one citizen and Nigerians are yet to realise the mess his administration has put our nation. The first was JOEL BRINKLEY who also analysed Jonathan’s numerous presidential flaws. The height of which some might say was granting of state pardon to a fugitive who happens to be a former state governor in Nigeria. That truly sucks. And inspite of all his leadership myopia some people want him to re-contest for presidency in 2015. Such people are modern day clowns who need their heads examined. As the suggestion of the Ghanaian professor states, Nigerians had better look for legal ways to flush the president out of office before he does more damage to the reputation and people of this country. Not a bad idea I figure!
We deserve GEJ as president of Nigeria. He is the express image and personality that carries the essense of Nigeria. We have not decided to lay hold of better things and hence we would continue to be improvished by the choices we have made.
I believe that until we decide to make a change in our values and make the right choices, Nigeria would continue to be seen as mediocre in the committee of nations.
GEJ..is a failure to the institution called “leadership”.. He is clearly of unsound mind and need a n immediate check up. Obviously GEJ has in the recent times committed institutionalised blunders as president of the federal republic of Nigeria. It’s pretty sad that we talk about tackling corruption ..when indeed all the arms of government without shame celebrate corruption in the open and make a public dance of the instution…I think the concept of Nigeria is a myrth…we need to revisit the fundamentals and consider if we can continue to exist as a nation.
Several years past, the South-South have clamoured for power claiming it’s the solution to the cancerwormic degradation of the institution of power. It is all a systemic faiure and economic facade to think a sect of the country can revolutionalise the entire state….it’s high time we went back to the drawing board and revisit the vision of the founding fathers of our great nation…I think if at all there is any sense of decency in our leadership…it’s that time they “take a bow”…
the problem of nigeria did not originate from GEJ, GEJ is only a part of it. The foundation is the problem. just allow that man to finish his two terms and lets sit down somewhere and discuss the way forward for the country. We’ve had presidents that are ten times worse than jonathan and they did completed their terms.
We give you 48 hours to apologize to Nigeria, you have bitten more than you can chew. This is for your own good.
Professor George AYittey has to apologize to Nigeria for such silly statements about our President. He is not a Nigerian, he did not participate in our election, he doesn’t know what is right and good for Nigerians more than Nigerians themselves. He should know that he has touched the tail of a tiger. I think he is not satisfied with his position. We give you 48 hours to apologize to Niger.
Thus,i have never seen a foolish professor like george Ayittey.inlaw u d plaintiff must have Anus of proof,ur interpretation of nigerian constitution as a ‘state’is highly wrong according to d Robert law of parlimentary procedure,,infact u have to apologise to nigerians, ur writing on president Gej,sound more of confrontation/political anueondo than an economist in relation to socio economic factor an enviromental management.ur point lacks diplomatic approach,unpatriotic,if u have africa in mind u could have come back to Ghana to contribute ur quoter,i just left ghana last month, boy, d curruption in Ghana outclass nigerian look at d mess ur president d prof is doing in Ghana d current mess in NDC.ur country has falling from top 10 of africa’s best governance to point 75 in one year what a shame!ur impact is not even felt in Ghana, u’ve neva been to nigeria,selfish man dnt b d west political watchdog in dere aim to break nigeria in 2015.come back to africa live lorton virginia.
The good professor said it all. Goodluck Jonathan is nothing but a joke and an embarrassment to all Nigerians and Nigeria. I had my doubts when he refused to engage in the political debate at the run-off to the elections. While all the other contestants were presenting their agendas, plans, strategies to the whole country, he decided not to be involved in it. Which leader in the western world would not engage in such debate at the run-off to the general elections and would expect to be elected by the voters. This showed he had no plans, strategies or agendas for the country. Now, we can all see it. Nigeria has gone down the precipice of development and the future of our present generations lost and setback a few more decades. You can never compare Nigeria of today with that of 2007. There was hope then but now hope is lost. Goodluck Jonathan is not a leader, he is actually a follower ,an onlooker or a messanger. He has dragged the position of the Nigerian Presidency in mud and our reputation in the international community is in taters. He does not have any solution to any of Nigeria’s problems.
A crime is a crime whatever type of crime it is. So far the Federal Constitution of Nigeria (the voice of the Nigerian people) has labelled it one. Goodluck Jonathan has committed a blatant crime and he has testified on National television to committing this crime. I expect members of the Nigerian Legislature to call for the resignation of Goodluck Jonathan as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for not declaring his assets. This is what is expected of western countries legislative arm. We expect a leader to lead by example. Apparently, Goodluck is not leading at all so he can not lead by example. Only God and Goodluck knows all the other crimes he might have committed.
Shame on to you Goodluck for dashing the hopes of we young Nigerians. You will never be forgiven forever.
The professor is right GEJ is a disappointment. and the most painful part of it is that it took somebody from far away ghana to say the truth. too bad.
Absolutely! Nigeria is Presidentless!!
Jonathan should be impeached for refusal to declear his asset, for not able to tacle the sect Boko haram, for total fall of Nigeria’s economic.
Jonathan is a sleeping fool and he will always wake up to nothing. He is just there to collect his sallaries and bribe from all angles, and what ever problem Nigeria has is non of his business.
I know very soon, Jonathan shall be in mess.
Nature or whatever you call yourself. You are so dumb! You are so dull, u need a head operation! The professor is damn right. Nigerians Should act now or be seen as cowards.
Live from the constitution:
140. (1) A person elected to the office of President shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in this Constitution and he has taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and the oath of office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule to this Constitution.
@Nature: You are a proper olodo!
Even worse than Jojo and his mumu advicers!
Listen to your self! A wise man knows it is not honourable to walk in the dark at nigth???????? No wonder you are unemployed!
I would answer you point for point but then I would only be re-posting the profs views, opinions and facts.
You deserve your prez. In fact both of you deserve each other. Blind leading blind, deaf, dumb and stupid!
Stories, as if they are better. First, I think people should mind their business and this is not a wise man talking rather someone showing off his CONSTITUTION knowledge and idea. If this Professor was our president, he wouldn’t do shit.
Declaring of asset HAS nothing to do with a man’s competence and mind you, anything GEJ answered on all the issues must have been revised over by his advisers. WHAT does an economist know about politics, isn’t it funny?
People should just stop talking. ON Boko Harram, what does anyone expect GEJ to do, Mr. Professor, go to social pages with ethnic focus like Idi Igbo, and it likes and see how silly people can be. Some Islamic people think Boko Harram are doing it wrongly BUT would abuse anyone who attacks their opinion of Allah. SO you want GEJ to start another civil war? USE your head.
Am not sure but I have seen in most American movies that the presidents don’t give out full details of what they are doing, some project are worth the silence.
Besides, you are not in our country so you have no idea who should be laying the rays. WHO sir do you want to account for loose of lives if they rails are done by professionals.
You speak the truth but lack basis to further ground your facts.
GEJ isn’t my brother or related to me in anyway, I am an UN-employed young person BUT I believe my President is doing his BEST.
Finally, please recommend to us who should take over if we impeach our president.
TAKE care of that which concerns you. GEJ didn’t corrupt the NATION he met it there and doing just his part to fix it.
ABOUT going to Borno. I think only a wise man knows its not honorable to walk in the dark at nights.
Thank you Mr. Professor know it all.
I forgot to mention about UNILAG change of NAME. For me, I just think the student have LOST their priority.
Finally, I am sure you wouldn’t let someone accuse you rather than advice you. Thanks God you can use twitter. Good for you because you are not running the affairs of over 5million people.
Please deal with your own self. BECOME a president and we will see.
Nigerian’s should begin 2 comback into their sense Gej. is a total failure 2 Nigeria as a nation.
Somebody wake me up!!!!This is a nightmare. What a juke
The prof may be right to some extent… But we still believe GEJ is not doing badly… he simply need the support of all Nigerians… not manipulation, division, and all manner of destructive tendencies… GEJ is not the best of the brains in the country… it’s not the requirement either to be president… Anyone can be chosen to lead… We believe God chooses leaders and disposes of them when He pleases… GEJ’s mandate is not forever… He deserves respect by all Nigerians and non-Nigerians… and a prof. should rather advice the president by proper channels than sending inflammatory statements for who knows what motives… We believe in peace in Nigera… Nigerians should rather think, plan, prepared themselves to be good citizens, good leaders,,, Fate may call those criticizing GEJ today to lead tomorrow… What will be their contribution… I advise we do the right by releasing a positive energy around us that would ‘contaminate’ the nation with positive ideas, rather that conflict and destruction… Thank u prof… for your remarks,,, Nigeria still has a long way to go… both the leaders and the followers… they all need proper orientation for positive transformation…
Gej has nothing to offer this country.everything prof.said is right.gej is a president of naija by chance.he shd b impeachd if not things will get spoilt b4 his tenor expires.but wil do that the law makers are already been bribe.if care is not taken gej will destroy this country wit his mediocrity.peace
Its so sad that Nigeria has been ruined by corruption and materialism.
Maybe we would learn now that choosing our leaders should not be about sentiments but common
sense. I weep for Nigeria.
GEL has blinfolded our Law-makers with money so they cant think of impeachment. Lord,let his days be numbered,let him not not come for another 4years,it will be a terrible thing.
It is quite unfortunate that it is an outsider telling us this truth. Are our Law-makers blind? I think they as worse as GEL himself hence they couldn’t think or make a move to impeach him. The masses are really helpless.
All this shouting by that professor is unwarranted. GoodLuck is the first working civilian president in Nigeria. The way his handling situation is what best for Nigeria . Kill boko haram with the military and start war between the not and the south. What does asset declaration got to do with a man’s competence
it would have been best for u not to have offered ur response at all, mr escobar. With what you have written, one cannot but consider the possibility that you belong in the same class with ur broda jonathan. Go get some understanding of what governance is about man. then come and talk on public fora such as this.
What professor George Ayittey said is nothing but the truth, he is one the people that always talk to express not to impress. I wonder why our professors kept mute despite all the menace taking place in the country! are they afraid of telling mr. president the truth or what??? Let us be sincere to ourselves and tell him (GEJ) the truth that his administration has failed Nigeria and Nigerians totally and completely and that the call for the impeachment of the president and his vice by prof. George Ayittey i
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GEJ….!!!!!!!! D guy hs an empty skull…he hs wrong answers τ̅☺ evry right questions…wot a silly man…buh wot can we mere citizens without power or pple wt lost rights do?
This rather appaling that d foolishness and clueless has travelled beyond d shores of our country. GEJ’s cluelessness has become so international dt the international intelligentias can no longer keep mute. It is a pity 9ja has become this sordid. But worse still is d fact dt many 9ja pp ve very short memory dt com 2015, they ll still vote for GEJ again. Some new must happen
GEJ is a joke . The Professor said it all. I always tell people that GEJ is not a sincere president and that he is clueless. His government has no direction. He’s just a figure head looking at Nigeria’s situation not knowing what to do. He should be impeached for not abiding to the constitution by declaring his assets. What is the essence of the FOI bill? So many secrets yet to be uncovered.
these are words of truth.. but we need to apply caution cos after we get rid of GEJ who is going to become the worthy replacement.. personally i don’t see anyone capable or worthy.. so till then.. the frying pan is better than the fire,, many ills exist in our system of government not only with the presidency.. its easier for a Ghanaian to say.. there they have an effective rule of law in place.. Nigeria is a sin city.. with lame law makers, judiciary and security personnel.
Very true. Nigerians knew GEJ before voting him in. Really, what better alternatives do they have? I voted Buhari in the last elections & in retrospect, I’m glad he did not win. Imagine the bloodshed instigated by him after the elections! Nigeria is blessed with many brilliant people & natural resources but our curse is being led by fools & selfish people. Imagine Farouk Lawal that pple tot was honest… In short, I can’t see a single honest politician in Nigeria & when an honest person rises, he’s snuffed out before he even starts.
Yes, if we get rid of Jonathan now who takes over?
sir it’s unfortunate dt u r just discovering ds fact, i n many more have known dt for a long time we’r just not in d position to impeach d man n give him d medical attention he deserves.
Yes ofcourse you are right. Nigerians should start calling him to step down he and his vice.
Let me start it now:
GEJ GO GO GO GO!!!!
Amazing! Nigerians have read this piece yet no one sends a comment! Hmmn. Shows what lies ahead of a doomed people. Just wait until a vision appears that Sleepyhead Jona is the promised messiah and pronto, he will be crowned Life President. Who says life presidency ended with Kamuzu Banda??
Dejo, what right have you to call us ‘doomed’? If you are unhappy no one has commented, there is no harm in you being the first. It only speaks volumes of who you are and how shallow your thinking faculty is. Nigerians deserve an apology for such a reckless and vicious statement.
It is unarguably disappointing that GEJ has demonstrated such level of incompetence and arrogance in most of his responses, however, we cannot just oust him out of office. Besides, politics in Nigeria and many other parts of Africa does not give room for the real choice of the people. Rigging and bloodshed stir the ship leading to public offices. More people are scared and have rather stayed quiet just to keep living. I agree that we need a revolution and we need to face our fears and stand up for the truth. But the level of corruption has gone way out of comfort zone that we wonder who the next will be. Even if the next person is good, what of those that will serve under him or her? Shall we then continue to fight and impeach every leader that comes to office? It is just mystifying! Finally, coupled with a people who are willing to fight for the truth, I think we need more of prayers and individual readiness to eschew corruption.
He is right. GEJ is a JOKE