President Goodluck Jonathan came under criticism from his Facebook
friends on Tuesday after he posted his Christmas message on the social
networking site. The President in the message said he "personally"
instructed government officials to make conditions favourable for
Nigerians to celebrate the Yuletide. The airports, he said, for
instance, had been given a "face lift", adding that the terminals were
rehabilitated and the runways upgraded ahead of the festive season.
He wrote,and I quote "I want to seize this opportunity to wish you and
your loved ones a merry Christmas and a happy New Year in advance. I
feel the pains of Nigerians and that is why this Yuletide I have
personally instructed that our roads be worked on to enable you and
your loved ones to travel safely for the holidays. "Not done, we
ensured that for the first time in decades, the cross country services
(Lagos to Kano with stops in cities along the route) of the Nigerian
Railway Corporation were revived just prior to the holidays to
provide Nigerian masses with an inexpensive alternative to road and
air transportation.
"This administration also took steps to increase power generation by
remaining true to the Timelines of the Roadmap to Power Sector Reform,
which has seen history made on Friday, December 21, when Nigeria's
power generation hit an all-time high of just over 4,500 MW."
But no sooner had Jonathan posted the message on his wall than it was
greeted with a barrage of criticisms from his friends .While a few
praised and advised the President on how to tackle the problems
bedevilling the country, many others faulted his submissions.
One of his friends, Kaycee Aloy-Obi wrote, "Mr. President hold your
greetings. You and your family are having great celebration. A litre
of petrol is sold at N110-N120, against N97 which is the official
price. There is unprecedented traffic jam on Ore-Benin road due to bad
roads. "People cannot go around to visit love ones because of
insecurity. Bury your head in shame with your 4,500 MW when South
Africa is generating 50,000 MW. It is paradoxical that many Nigerians
are having dry Christmas in midst of plenty."
Yusuf Suleiman, asked the president to match his words with actions,
adding that his "advisers are not telling you the true picture of what
is happening." He said, "In Nigeria today, under your watch, the
country recorded the highest looting of our treasury, and you didn't
do anything. We also have seen how citizens were massacred, in fact,
the highest since civil war ended (and) your government is not doing
enough to stop that."
Also, Bethel Vincent, wrote, " Haba ! Mr. President, you know say lie
no good at all . Why post something we have not witnessed, yet you
refer to us as friends and fellow Nigerians.
As I am talking to you, my flat is running on generator; Benin-Auchi
road is filled with potholes and you are talking about airport, how
(many) Nigerians can afford air transport?"
A friend, Ajoba David, wrote, "Sir, congratulations! Merry Christmas
and ahappy new year. What do we expect as a New Year gift come
Tuesday, January 1st? Well, I hope it is not going to be another fuel
subsidy razzmatazz like we experienced last year.
Mr . President you are done .......truly A lier .don't say you read
ham here ooooooo
