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| EX-GOVERNOR OGBEMUDIA |
President Goodluck Jonathan is experiencing turbulent times in his leadership of the country because he has stepped on toes in the process of executing his Transformation Agenda, a two-time ex-governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia has said.
According to him, “Jonathan is more intelligent than many of us put together. He is pushing the programmes to transform Nigeria and those who do not want change are opposed to him. In the process of transforming the country he is stepping on people’s toes and they are opposed to him”.
Dr Ogbemudia, who also described the current Minister of Works, Arc. Mike Onolememen as the “best Minister of Works since 1960”, urged Jonathan to give the Minister five more years because “I have drove through llesha-Ife-Ibadan-Abeokuta-Lagos Road and the Minister is a blessing to Nigeria and Edo state in particular. And if he is given another five years, potholes and bad roads will be a thing of the past in Nigeria”.
While lamenting that despite the laudable programmes of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, some Nigerians are still not happy, the retired Army General asserted that “when you see the Benin-Lagos-Shagamu road you will no doubt come to the conclusion that a great percentage of the transformation is on the way.
“Before now, from Benin-Lagos, none was tarred except small plantation, about four miles, all others red earth and when you get to Lagos you are red unless you tie some napkins over your head.
“So I think that Jonathan should be allowed to complete his job, we should give him the maximum support we can so that when it is our turn, his supporters will also support us”, he pleaded.
Ogbemudia noted that the president was having sleepless nights working on how he could put Nigeria back on track, therefore, he should not be distracted.
He added: “They should keep away from him those people who are pursuing their personal interest”.
When asked if he will support Onolememen for governorship in Edo state come 2016, Ogbemudia stated that “he has not told me he is running for governorship. You don’t back people who don’t tell you about their ambition. Apart from that because he has done well in one sector does not mean that he will do well in other sectors”.
The former governor instead stressed the need for the minister to remain in his current position where he can make “Nigeria proud” rather than “make things difficult for himself” by vying for the Edo governorship seat.
