My Transition - Jonathan Ebele REMADE (B), page 15
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essential, particularly in the areas of education and health. We must
support this transformation which our youthful population offers
the prospect for.
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REFORMING AFRICA
“Africa must turn its begging bowl to a basket of opportunities.” ~
Goodluck Jonathan
We must not forget that in Africa, we have many natural resources,
while some nations all over the world don't have what we have, but
are still prosperous. Switzerland is a good example, they have little or
no natural resources, but they have one of the strongest and most
stable economies in the world, and that is thanks to the human
capital. In Africa, we have gotten into the habit of asking for help,
relief, charity, financial assistance, donations, contributions, and
subsidies. I look on this as a form of begging—for we not only
expect, but we rely on aid from multinational organizations from so
many countries like the UK, USA, and Europe, to name a few .
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R E F O R M I N G A F R I C A
Through the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, we will encourage people
to stop this aid-seeking mentality and become self-reliant. We are
endowed with human and material resources which we must tap to
the fullest to change our story.
What makes our continent great is not just trade investment
opportunities or natural resources, but the resilience of the people.
Nigeria alone has over 170 million, people. The ECOWAS region is
close to 300 million and the entire continent close to a billion people.
I believe that our youth has set the ball rolling, as a new generation
emerges in Africa. Young people, in their late twenties and early
thirties want to contribute to their economic future, family and
homes Opportunity is what they seek and we must give it to them.
We have a new breed in our young people, and I feel we must
continue to open windows of opportunity for them which they will
turn to doors. If they are willing to trek for nineteen days, in respect
of another's commitment, then they are certainly great candidates
for tomorrow's entrepreneurs!
The Economist projects that African population could reach 2.7
billion by 2050. Between 2000 and 2008, Africa's working age
population (15-64 years) grew from 443 to 550 million—a 25
percent increase with an average of 13 million annually. Predictions
state that if this kind of growth continues, the Africa labor force
could be one billion strong by 2040, making it the largest in the
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world, when compared to China and India. How do we make this a
consumer market that businesses could service? We must live in that
question.
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LEADERSHIP – LIFE AFTER OFFICE
“As African leaders, we must begin to imbibe the culture of
democracy.” ~ Goodluck Jonathan
I maintain that any Renaissance for Africa involves political issues.
The feeling that one can still be relevant outside of office remains
high on my list. There is no better way than for me to demonstrate
that no president should hang on to power beyond necessary. No
one person, no individual alone can solve all the problems of a
country; it has to be the work of the collective .There is nobody who
is indispensable and no matter how wise or intelligent a person is, he
cannot be the repository of all wisdom. My leadership will continue
with the Jonathan Goodluck Foundation to give back to the society up that has
given me so much. Months after leaving office I have learned to place a
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deaf ear to the lies of assassins and not to respond to that are in bad
faith while developing the capacity to reflect on genuine criticism.
I have spent considerable time on the social media where I read so
many things about the feelings of our people . In November 2015
NAIJ.com ran the report below: " An open letter of apology to the
immediate past president, Goodluck Jonathan"authored by a Nigerian, Michael
Joel which went viral on social media!
Open Letter Urges Goodluck Jonathan To Return To Power
Our Dear Goodluck Jonathan,
I write on behalf of all Nigerians to tender an unreserved apology to you for
unknowingly voting you out of office as the president of “once upon a time” giant
of Africa, Nigeria. I know many will shy away from accepting this fact, especially
those from the Aggrieved People Caucus (APC) commonly known for boasting
of what they cannot or will never do. Before your unfortunate exit, we Nigerians
used to buy fuel at N87.00 per litre. Who knows, maybe by now you would have
brought it down to N22.00 per litre had you not been voted out? Your
Excellency, believe me, we have all learned the lesson, and we promise never to
repeat such a blunder. It may interest you to know that we have finally come to
terms that President Muhammadu Buhari's primary ambition was to be a
petroleum minister, but the known scammers, to divert from his purpose to the
presidency for reasons not yet made public, tricked him.
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Given this discovery, we are currently on a round-table negotiation with PMB to
accept your unconditional return to the presidency, and for him to rather
concentrate on the Ministry of Petroleum till further notice.
Accept the assurance of the fact that once the “old soldier” signs the
memorandum of understanding, we will communicate the same to you. While re-
emphasising our regret as regards your exit from power, we are hopeful that you
are currently on the drawing board to re-strategise and do what you know how to
do best ahead. Please accept our sincere apology.
Yours truly.
Michael Joel
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PRIVATE SECTOR REFORM
“Private sector reform will bring economic growth to all parts of the
country.” ~ Goodluck Jonathan
African countries need to create 122 million jobs by 2020 but are
only expected to generate 54 million. We have a shortage of close to
68 million of unemployed persons. To me, this is a state of
emergency! Governments alone cannot fill those jobs. The private
sector must continue with the promotion of private sector led
growth in more African economies. We must advance independent
and competitive participation in the global economy. More
comprehensive and deepened work is needed to address our African
economies. The African private sector is growing stronger and
stronger and is ready to engage long-term partnership and growth
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with foreign investors. We will encourage new policies to establish,
create and enable environments to expand small and medium
business growth. These two questions continually motivate me:
1.
Imagine if our economy provided the average Nigerian
to gain from profits?
2.
How can The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation be forever
committed to private sector change?
I want our people to be part of the economy that is not state
controlled, but rather run by individuals and companies for profit. I
am remarkably challenged by this goal and will devote my life to
private sector empowerment where all for- profit businesses are not
owned or operated by the government. Nigerian's are intelligent and
very talented, but often these qualities go unnoticed by the very
people who possess remarkable ability.
Let me speak from experience . . . During my presidency, I
introduced the “Local Content Law Act” which helped encourage
both entrepreneurs and investors. The Act provided a host of
requirements designed to ensure workforce development and
technology transfer to Nigerians. It required, whenever possible, for
operators to hire Nigerians. When this wasn't possible, the Act made
it mandatory to put into place training programs and procedures for
Nigerian workers. Periodic progress reports were required and
executed by the Board.
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This Act mandated that operators provide a succession plan for all
positions filled by expatriates, except for five percent of
management positions, which could be permanently held by
foreigners, but only with a plan for Nigerians to take over after a
maximum of four years of apprenticeship under incumbent
expatriates. These steps allowed skill-based companies to reassure
and show investors a business environment designed where
products and services thrived. This is the difference between
Change and Reform. As I said earlier in a Chapter Three “my
concern was for new ideas” that is what I call REFORM “but the
opposition ran their campaign with negative rhetoric, insisting that
my government must go,” the people wanted CHANGE. Reform
seeks to improve the system, as it stands, not to overthrow it
wholesale. Radicals on the other hand, seek to improve the system,
but try to overthrow whether it be the government or a group of
people them selves.
Now, in my post-presidential life, my foundation is dedicated to
taking the steps and measures for Nigerians to patronize locally
made goods for economic growth throughout the country again that
is called REFORM. My primary focus belongs to the private sector
partnering in our efforts for peace and prosperity for long-term
reality. We cannot talk about inclusive growth without placing a
particular focus on women, youth, and the Diaspora. They play a
crucial role in sustaining our development. African women
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represent an important part of our social fabric, playing an active
role in our agricultural sector, from farming, processing, and
marketing of our agricultural products. They count for 70 percent
of the workforce and 90 percent of food producers. At the 2016
Nigeria Summit it was noted that now Nigeria is regarded as Africa's
leading economy and an investment hotspot for some of the world's
largest brands. I am excited with life after office and through my
Foundation I can still be relevant.
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THE WORLD ACCLAIMS STILL
BBC reporter:
"Mr. Mugabe; you have been president for 32years. When are you
going to say goodbye to the people of Zimbabwe? "
Mr. Mugabe:
"Bye to the people of Zimbabwe?! Where are they going?
A prophet is without honour in his homestead. So it was that the
Bishop of Sokoto Diocese,Dr Matthew Hassan Kukah came under
scurrilous attacks for asking our successors to spare a thought for my
graciousness in conceding defeat without taking the country
through bloodshed as we have witnessed in many African countries
where the type of mindset captured between a BBC reporter and an
African leader above prevails.It is in such cases about whether the
people should go and get soaked inblood or perish but never about
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the leader going in peace. After a meeting of the peace committee
with President Buhari,Father Kiukah had said the following :
“There is no such thing as probe in a democratic setting like ours.
What obtains is investigation, and once people lead and things are
not right, investigation becomes necessary. “However, in doing that,
we must never be distracted from the spectacular actions undertaken
by former President Jonathan. He is an individual. I think this whole
thing about probe can be ascer-tained once investigations are
concluded. But we are saying that a lot of talks and speculation about
this probe are the distractions nobody needs.
“So, the most important thing is that we need a stable country first,
before we can talk about these things. And they will have happened
down the line”,
The sentiments Bishop Kukah came under attacks for were the same
reason United States Vice-President Joe Biden praised me for when
he called me on April 21,2015.
A statement by the U.S Embassy in Abuja after our hearty
conversation reads:
“Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Nigerian President
Goodluck Jonathan to commend him for his leadership in ensuring
Nigeria's recent elections were peaceful and orderly.
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“The Vice President noted that President Jonathan's actions to
accept the results and congratulate President-elect Buhari, as well as
his steps to date to ensure a successful transition, have strengthened
Nigeria's democracy and set a strong example for Africa and the
world.
“The Vice President encouraged President Jonathan to remain
engaged and play a leadership role in global issues after his
presidency ends.”
In far away Tanzania,it was an ecstatic moment when the
Commonwealth chose me to lead its observer team to the country"s
election. I walked into the warm embrace of many Tanzanians who
were upbeat and confident that my presence would bring credibility
to the polls which analysts considered the toughest and closest
elections in the country's history.
As Tanzanians prepare to vote they were happy that high profile
observers including Myself who they consider as 'a hero of free and
fair election in Africa', would be on ground to monitor the elections.
They are hoped that our presence would ensure a transparent and
peaceful election process. Paying tribute to me in an editorial, The
Daily News of Tanzania commended me for taking my defeat in the
March 2015 presidential election “in all magnanimity,” adding that
“Jonathan may very well have averted bloodshed that is
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characteristic of incumbent leaders who cling in power tooth and
nail, fang and claw! What lesson is there in this for us in Tanzania,
pray?”
In the editorial entitled: 'Salutary lessons for Tanzania from Nigeria's
latest elections; the paper said further: “It is generally admitted that
the election in Nigeria was unprecedentedly free, fair and
transparent, whereby the opposition candidate, Muhammadu
Buhari, won the Presidency. What is more remarkable is that the
incumbent president who sought re-election, Goodluck Jonathan,
… most graciously accepted the results promptly!
“Oh, I don't know beyond the fact that Tanzania could tragically do
worse if it fails to dedicatedly take a leaf out of Nigeria's newest
book on elections!” Similarly, the Guardian of Tanzania also poured
encomiums on me, describing me as a democrat who has pointed the
way forward for the rest of Africa. In its own editorial comment
entitled 'High profile figures among observers will add credibility to
poll process, results', The Guardian stated: “Jonathan's voluntary
handover of power to the opposition wrote a new chapter for
Nigeria's democracy, given the fact that it is rare for sitting presidents
in Africa to hand over powers to winning opposition parties.”
By the grace of the Almighty our presence brought stability to the
electoral system in Tanzania. Below is excerpts from my media
encounter after the elections:
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How do you feel as chairman of the Commonwealth Observer
Group being your first international assignment after handing over
back in Nigeria?
I am honored to have chaired the Commonwealth observer mission
during such significant elections for the people of the United
Republic of Tanzania. Our presence here reaffirms the
Commonwealth's support to the country and its democratic process.
The Commonwealth observer group commends the people of
Tanzania for the peaceful and orderly manner in which they
exercised their rights to vote on October 25th, 2015.
On 23 October, our teams were deployed throughout Tanzania to
observe the election environment and preparations. The
Commonwealth teams also observed the final campaign events
around the country. Our final report, which we will complete before
our departure, would be issued at a later date.
What has this group observed that entails multi-party democracy on
the mainland Tanzania and the island nation of Zanzibar?
The emergence of UKAWA alliance of opposition parties,
following the constitutional reform process which has now been
