Kashim Shettima, Governor of Boko Haram-ravaged Borno State, says former President Goodluck Jonathan performed very poorly during his presidency because he surrounded himself with “religious bigots, tribal kindred and reactionary elements”, unlike Olusegun Obasanjo who had quality people in his administration.
Shettima made these comments at the public presentation of a book, ‘On a Platter of Gold’, written by Bolaji Abdullahi, who was Minister of Sports in the Jonathan administration and is now the spokesman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Shettima, Jonathan was an honest man, but he had many incompetent people in his administration and that was why he failed.
“Comparing (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo and the people he worked with and those Jonathan worked with, you will understand why,” Shettima said.
“If you look at Obasanjo, hate him or love him, you have to respect Obasanjo for not only believing in the Nigerian project, but for surrounding himself with men of quality.
“If you mention Obasanjo, the names that readily come to mind are those of Oby Ezekwesili, Aliko Dangote, Femi Otedola, Jim Ovia, Tony Elumelu, Nasir el-Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Bukola Saraki and other quality Nigerians who have the capacity to add value to the system.
“But when you think of President Jonathan, with all due respect, he surrounded himself with an assorted crop of religious bigots, tribal kindred and all sorts of reactionary elements. Ateke Tom, Government Tompolo, Late Oronto Douglas, Asari Dokubo, Edwin Clark, Ayo Oritsejafor and others.”
Shettima described calls for restructuring as “madness”, saying “to hell with restructuring”.
He said the term ‘restructuring’ had become a regular phrase in the country due to bad leadership, adding that if Nigerians begin to feel the positive impacts of governance, nobody will remember restructuring again.
“People are talking about artificial intelligence, other nations are talking about nano technology or robotics engineering but unfortunately, the topical issue in Nigeria is restructuring. Restructuring my foot! To hell with restructuring,” he said.
“Let us improve on governance, let us work for the people, invest in education, create jobs for our people; this madness will stop.”