Late choice of Buhari’s running mate, ‘height of incomptence’

Doyin Okupe, the senior special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on public affairs, says the government is in full control of the insecurity situation in the country.

Alleging that the insurrection in the northeast has led to an intense pressure on government, Okupe said the motive of some of those trying to find out the steps that government is taking to tackle insurgency is questionable.

“The issue of insurgency cannot be and would not be a national referendum for 2015. We didn’t cause this war but we inherited it,” he said at a presentation of Jonathan’s candidacy in Lagos on Wednesday.

“Insurgency is something that is extremely very big, our soldiers have to be retrained and the process of retraining is taking place. So when I tell you that we are going to win the war against Boko Haram, know that it is not fiction.

“People are saying we don’t know what the government is doing, how can you know what the government is doing on the issue of war? Nobody talks about security in public, so people should stop disturbing us on what we are doing.

“We don’t even know if those disturbing us are working for Boko Haram. American government pursued Bin Laden for 10 years, did you see it in the papers?”

Claiming that Jonathan has performed above expectation, Okupe urged Nigerians to rally round the president.

He said the battle line for 2015 had been drawn and alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has no plans for the country.

“I have worked closely with presidents. Till date, I remain the only Nigerian who has worked with two presidents and I can say Goodluck Jonathan is the very best. I do not speak about Jonathan because of money. I am not a sycophant,” he said.

“Jonathan bears a lot of burden for this nation. Many of the faults that we blame him for, we who are on the inside know what the problems are. Gowon said to keep Nigeria one is a war that must be won.

“Some members of the opposition are deaf but we are not bothered. They say we are doing nothing. Their presidential candidate has made speeches everywhere. I have watched his speeches and discovered that he has said nothing but I am not surprised because if your mind is empty, your mouth would be empty.

“No more speculations about 2015. It has been narrowed to two candidates in Nigeria. It is between Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. The choice in this election is clear. It is crystal clear, it is either Goodluck or bad luck.”

Reacting to the controversy generated over a statement he made on Monday during Sunrise Daily, a breakfast progamme on Channels Television, Okupe claimed he was quoted out of contest.

Nigerians, particularly on social media, had lashed out at him over the statement.

“On Channels Television, they claimed I said Goodluck is Jesus Christ. I didn’t say so,” he said.

“I am a deeply religious person and I’m proud to be one. There is nothing that I depend on but God. How can I blaspheme against Jesus Christ? Impossible.

“In Christendom, what they tell us is ‘be like Christ’, there’s no offence for us to compare ourselves with our Lord Jesus Christ. I said Jonathan bears a lot of burden for this nation and he’s bearing it well. Let detractors go and sleep.”