THE Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said it would never sing the praise of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led govern-ment, adding that nobody would ever praise his enemy.

This is just as the party described the lamentations of President Jonathan at the opening of the 52nd annual general meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as admission of failure and incompetence.

It will be recalled that President Jonathan, at the meeting on Monday, said he was the most criticised president in the world, while he also asked why he was being held responsible for insecurity, power failure and decaying infrastucture in the country, though his administration inherited the problems.

In a statement issued in Ibadan, by the national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said what a nation ex-pects from a president at a time of crisis are words that will inspire the citizens and give them confidence.

“Great leaders in the world, like Winston Churchill, Dwight Eisen-hower, J.F. Kennedy, are remembered today more importantly for the quality of leadership they provided their various nations at moments of crisis.

“Even in the face of imminent defeat and paralysing casualties, Churchill was still able to inspire and rally his people to victory and faced with Cuban missile crisis, President Kennedy did not throw up his hands in despondency,” the party added.

Alhaji Mohammed, while speaking at the Hot Seat, a monthly program-me of the Oyo State council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Ibadan, on Tuesday, said the job of the opposition party was not to praise the ruling party.

He, however, said the president would be commended if and when the government was doing anything patriotic, noting that the Peoples Demo-cratic Party (PDP)-led administration had not done anything worthy of commendation.

Debunking the claim that the ACN had taken over the media in the country, Mohammed said it was laughable that a party that was in control of the major media organisations, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and the Federal Radio Corpora-tion of Nigeria (FRCN) could make such an allegation.

Also reacting to the criticisms trailing the role played by ACN in the emergence of Honourable Aminu Tambuwal as the speaker of the House of Representatives, he said it would have been suicidal to concede the position to a PDP law-maker from the South-West.

He justified the party for working against candidates of the PDP, who were both from Oyo State, saying the position of the ACN then would not allow for such a political suicide.

Speaking on the chan-ces of the ACN in the forthcoming governor-ship election in Ondo State, the ACN spokes-man said the party would not concede the state to Governor Segun Mimiko, adding that no matter what the governor might have done, ACN would do better if elected in October.

Comments (5)

Show/hide comments

Praising Mr President ByACN
written by ColNwako, August 29, 2012

Nigeria belongs to all and even though we have various political parties, these parties are owned by and put together by Nigerians. These parties are not put together by foreigners and the purpose of forming these parties is to campaign, and eventually seek for elective posts for those these parties have nominated. I liken the competition to what happens in sports competitions. These contestants are not viewed as enemies. Even though each competitor is trying to outshine the other but certainly they are not enemies.
Alhaji Mahmud Waziri preached ,POLITICS WITHOUT BITTERNESS. He is still remembered with this view and that is how it should be. Late Alvan Ikoku and his son Sam, even his wife all belonged to different political parties. We never heard that Alvan divorced his wife or disowned his son because of divergent political views. They did not declare themselves as enemies.
Lai Mohammed plays politics with bitterness and has declared his opponents as his enemies and therefore he cannot praise them when they do well. Opposition is healthy action in democracy but criticize constructively, objectively. Praise or commend if the ruling party does well.
President Jonathan called Gov Oshiomole to congratulate him on his success at Edo governorship election that took place recently. Oshiomole is of ACN and not PDP. The President showed he is President of Nigeria and it is an evidence of magnanimity. We may belong to different political parties but we have a common goal. That goal is to develop our country and to make Nigerians live happily, bring up our children in the best way possible and and over a good legacy. Do we tell our children that those in opposing parties are our enemies. What do you do to enemies? You kill or main or capture. These are our brothers and sisters, parents, uncles aunties seeking office to bring the dividend of democracy to the people. They are not to be killed.
ACN and it's spokesman should have a rethink and see what our President did and learn from it.

• 
• +1
• 
• 

Opposition in a Democratic Regime
written by Omoba, August 29, 2012

I pity the writer of above comment because he has demonstrated that he does not understand what congratulation means when somebody win an election and when somebody used that victory to deliver on what he promised the electorates.
Jonathan either as President our himself as an individual have little or nothing to do to Oshiomole's victory at the poll, because it was the wish of the people of the state to have him elected as their governor, whereas, Jonathan was sponsor by a party to contest an election. so between parties, there could be some exchange of ideas and critic, that in itself is what we call the beauty of democracy, it is even better that everybody does not belong to same party otherwise the much needed of check and balances will not exist, just as we had it in a military administartion.Lai have not said anything new or bad as a party in opposition. It is expected and it will be stupid on the part of the ruling party to assume that ACN is saying rubbish.
Lai was only been sincere by speaking out. I live in USA, Republican hardly agrees on anything with the Democrats even when such issue are to the benefits of the masses. The only thing is that everybody will have to account for their deeds and misdeeds to the electorates; unfortunately, it is not so yet in our country. But hopefully, we will get there someday.
Deleoyibo-USA

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Reply to Deleoyibo USA
written by ColNwako, August 29, 2012

@Dele USA. You don't have to pity me but yourself for not understanding my write up. If you are in America, don't other parties congratulate winners of election. President Jonathan did not congratulate Oshiomole because he had a hand in the election. You also want to tell me that political parties are enemies to one another. Your language does not depict you as one living in a developed world. I just pity you.

• 
• +1
• 
• 

Pathetic
written by Kidie Sajere, August 29, 2012

Lai Mohammeds comments are shocking, disgraceful, despicable and primitive.
It is not expected for any leader in this modern World to refer to political opponents as enemies. Politics is not a do-or-die plunge to bulge pockets, but a contest to do more for the people. If we see politics as a selfless service to the people, then the likes of Lai Mohammed would represent all that is wrong with Nigeria, and why we are still poverty stricken and developmentally marooned 50+ years after independence.

Lai Mohammeds words provide insight into why ACN always seems to echo boko haram who are the genuine enemies of the people. Lets recall for instance, that ACN shockeningly echoed boko harams calls for the President to resign just a few weeks ago. whose mouthpiece is lai Mohammed?

Listening to the Lai Mohammeds of Nigeria makes me feel deep shame for the country. When will we stop celebrating monied mediocrity?>

• 
• +1
• 
• 

...
written by Batman, August 30, 2012

This boy called Layi is a bush boy and has the mentality of a disgruntled domestic staff, the kind that got Oyerinde killed. I don't know what he thinks this is.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment