Jonathan to Obasanjo: I’m Nigeria’s best leader

President Goodluck Jonathan has described
himself as the best leader to be produced by
Nigeria.
The President said no leader since the country
gained independence in 1960 had done better
than himself for the country.
He, therefore, said the comment made by
former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in which
the ex-President described Jonathan’s
performance as below average, was untrue.
Jonathan said this in a statement by his Special
Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, in
Abuja on Sunday.
Okupe’s statement read, “Our attention has
been drawn to comments made by a former
President of this country, Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo, regarding the performance of the
administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“Obasanjo had at an event over the weekend
declared that he rated the President Goodluck
Jonathan administration ‘below average’.
“We aver that Obasanjo’s comments are
untrue, misleading and clearly do not tally with
the facts on the ground.
“We therefore wish to assert without
equivocation that in terms of performance and
achievements, no administration since 1960
when Nigeria gained independence from
Britain, has done as much as that of President
Jonathan.”
He said that every discerning and unbiased
Nigerian would definitely attest to this “as the
evidence stare all of us in the face.”
Okupe, who had also worked with the former
President while in office, added that contrary to
Obasanjo’s position, the Federal Government
under Jonathan had performed excellently
given the prevailing circumstances and
resources available to it.
He said while it was true that Nigeria had been
faced with incidents of insurgency and
terrorism, especially in the last few years, the
Jonathan administration had successfully
contained the initial widespread activities of the
insurgents, which he said were prevalent in 12
states of the North, including the Federal
Capital Territory.
He added, “While it is true that the present
activities of the terrorists in the three north-
eastern states have become more deadly in
mindless killings, kidnappings and supposed
territorial seizures, government has made giant
diplomatic strides with our neighbouring
countries in order to checkmate the
crisscrossing of the insurgents.
“The military and other security agents, which
have engaged the insurgents since inception,
have done a great job in spite of recent
challenges.
“The truth of the matter which we must know
and accept is that we have an internal enemy
supported by internal and external resources
waging a major warfare against our nation.”