On Christmas Day of 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted leading citizens of the Federal Capital Territory led by the minister of the FCT, Muhammad Bello, and during the visit he returned to his old habit of blaming and said, and I quote, “there was no money saved, no infrastructure built, and power is still our main problem.”
This is patently untrue and without mincing words, President Buhari lied.
Former President Jonathan left $2.07 billion in the Excess Crude Account when he handed over to President Buhari on May 29, 2015. He also left Foreign reserves of $29. 6 billion for the incoming government in May 2015.
If ex President Jonathan left no savings, with what money did President Muhammadu Buhari use to bail out those states that could not pay salary (mostly APC states) after he assumed office in May 2015? Of course the Central Bank of Nigeria did not print money! That money came from somewhere.
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On Tuesday the 26th of July, 2016, President Buhari commissioned the $1.457bn Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail project. This was a project built and COMPLETED by the Jonathan administration. It is a 187 kilometer railway that enables Nigerians to live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. Is this not infrastructure?
The only federal university in President Buhari’s state is the federal university Dutsin-Ma was built by former President Jonathan who also built 11 other federal universities in Zamfara, Yobe, Nasarawa, Kogi, Taraba, Gombe, Jigawa, Kebbi, Ebonyi, Bayelsa and Ekiti states.
By building 12 new federal universities and 165 almajiri schools and renovating 507 additional secondary schools all over Nigeria through the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Jonathan administration not only increased access to education, the policy also had the intended side effect of putting hundreds of thousands of youths to work which stimulated the economy and contributed to GDP growth. Are these not infrastructure?
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To prove that former President Jonathan prudently and judiciously developed all parts of Nigeria, I will now list, state by state, the infrastructure that the Jonathan administration invested in every state of Nigeria. I challenge President Muhammadu Buhari to contradict me.
In Abia, Jonathan completed power plants in Aba and Alaoji and reconstructed and reopened Ohafia barracks to stem kidnapping.
In Adamawa Jonathan constructed 5 Almajiri schools and the NAF Comprehensive Sec School and a Terminal at the Yola airport.
In Anambra Jonathan completed Onitsha River Port, repaired Onitsa-Owerri Rd and kick started the process of the 2nd Niger Bridge.
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In Akwa Ibom Jonathan established a new Federal Polytechnic in Ukana and the Nkari Earth dam and rehabilitated FG rds.
In Bauchi Jonathan equipped the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital Bauchi and built 5 Almajiri schools.
In Benue Jonathan is building the Loko-Oweto bridge, completed the Makurdi Water Supply Scheme supplying to 1 million people.
In Borno, Jonathan has fought desertification with the Great Green Wall Project and rehabilitated the Uba – Mbalala Road. He also set up the Presidential Initiative for the Northeast and the Victims Support Fund which raised ₦59 billion for the Northeast. Interestingly, it is from this PINE that a certain Babachir Lawal is accused of pilfering ₦270 million from.
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In Cross River Jonathan rehabilitated the Margaret Ekpo Int’l Airport and Modernised the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
In Delta Jonathan has taken Itakpe-Ajaokuta-warri railway to 80% completion and kick started the $16B Gas City Project at Ogidigben
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In Ebonyi Jonathan established the Fed University in Ndufe – Alike, repaired over 250km of roads and built power substations.
In Edo Jonathan completed the Ihovbor power Station, reconstructed the Benin-Ore-Sagamu and equipped UBTH.
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In Ekiti Jonathan established the Federal University in Oye – Ekiti, and repaired hundreds of kilometers of Federal Rds.
In Enugu Jonathan gave the S. East their first International Airport and revived the PH-Enugu rail line.
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In Gombe Jonathan established the Federal University in Kashere and built 5 Almajiri schools.
In Imo Jonathan rehabilitated the Sam Mbakwe International Airport and completed power stations and built sub stations. #GEJisworking.
In Jigawa Jonathan established the Federal University in Dutse, built 5 Almajiri schools and built silos.
In Kano Jonathan revived the Lagos-Kano rail, built 5 Almajiri schools, renovated the MAKIA Int’l Airport and built silos.
In Kaduna, Jonathan has just completed the Standard Gauge Kad-Abj rail that enables you work in Abuja and live in Kd.
In Katsina Jonathan established the Federal University in Dutsin-ma, built 5 Almajiri schools and multiple silos.
In Kebbi Jonathan established the Federal University in Kalgo, built 5 Almajiri schools and multiple silos.
In Kogi Jonathan established the new Federal University in Lokoja, and completed the Geregu power plant.
In Kwara Jonathan revived Jebba-Kano & Ilorin–Offa rail lines, built Almajiri schools, ongoing reconstruction Ibadan Ilorin Rd.
In Lagos Jonathan revived the Lagos-Kano rail, introduced inter city air conditioned diesel trains and is rehabilitating MMIA.
In Nasarawa Jonathan established a new Federal University in Lafia and rehabilitated the Lafia–Makurdi Rd.
In Niger Jonathan dredged River Niger up to Baro, Baro Port at 95% completion, Zungeru power plant ongoing.
In Ondo Jonathan completed and commissioned the 500 MWs Omotosho Power Plant Phase 2 & renovated the Akure airport.
In Ogun Jonathan rehabilitated the Sagamu-Ore road as well as the Ijebu Igbo Ajegunle–Araromi–Ife-Sekona Road (Section II).
In Osun Jonathan re-equipped OAUTH, constructed silos, built power substations, repaired Efon Alaaye-Erinmo Ijesha-Iwarga Rd.
In Oyo Jonathan is reconstructing (not repairing) Lag-Ibadan Rd and has commenced constructing the Lag-Ibadan hi-speed rail.
In Plateau Jonathan repaired the Vom-Manchok Rd, construction of earth dam in Heipang and power substations.
In Rivers Jonathan revived the PH-Enugu Rail, Rehabilitating the PH International Airport & upgraded Uniport Teaching Hospital.
In Sokoto Jonathan is fighting desertification with the Great Green Wall and built 5 Almajiri schools.
In Taraba Jonathan established the Federal University in Wukari and constructed the Kashimbila Multi-Purpose Dam Project.
In Yobe Jonathan established Fed University of Gashua, Almajiri schools & Gashua–Hadejia 132KV double circuit trasnsmission line.
In Zamfara Jonathan established the Federal University Gusau, built multiple Almajiri schools and constructed silos.
Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California, author of Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God and Why Jesus Wept and the host of Transformation with Reno Omokri
Views expressed by contributors are strictly personal and not of TheCable.
11 comments
One thing with multi-polar Reno, with his many names, is that unlike many other political minions, he has stuck to the defence of his principal. He spends his time looking for anything on social media on GEJ so that he can fight back. A dog is not man’s best friend; Reno is man’s best friend.
Any objection to what RENO said ?
Reno too lied.Jonathan did some projects but most of these projects are still ongoing e.g Lagos-Ibadan expressway,Benin Ore Sagamu expressway.Only Benin Ore section(less than 200km) was completed after 16yrs.None of the roads in south south and south east was completed throughout the Jonathan administration of 6yrs.Most Of the projects claimed by Reno were started by obj administration. Local airport in Lagos was upgraded but international airport in Lagos is a disgrace to the nation.The Almajiri schools building of 3 classroom blocks are not achievement except Of course to the mediocres.The bail out fund was remitted by NNLG. Buhari administration has not impressed either. Let see how long will take this government to complete a road project. As at today, this government has not commissioned any major road project after almost 2 yrs in the office.
Akin, your so called saint Buhari has spent almost 10 trillions (2015/2016) budgets, yet, he has not been able to initiate a single capital project in any part of Nigeria order than the multi billion helipad he is building for himself in Daura.
@ simple. Though am not a fan of buhari but to say he has spent 10 trillion in 2 years is far from the truth. Budget estimates is far from actual spendings. Its just a projection or intentions. That is why u have what is called budget deficit if it doesn’t materialize
Well, for the last 7 months of 2015, Buhari’s govt realised N4.3 trillion from oil alone at a conservative $30/barrel and N3.7 trillion from tax alone. That’s 8 trillion Naira in 2015 alone. The Niger-Delta boys did not resume their trouble until January 2016!
Simple, is there any sense in initiating new capital project when there are lot of uncompleted projects to be completed by this government. Also, Buhari government has to pay all the contractors that abandoned works due to lack of payment by Jonathan’s government. The trillion of naira that can be used to initiate new projects are used to pay the contractors so that project can be completed.
Examples are the Lagos-Ibadan road, the train lines in the North and many more abandoned projects.
I am pretty sure you know the truth but since your paymaster is out of the government you are still sulking. Keep up wailing my friend
Then Buhari should not open his mouth to say the Jonathan administration did not put capital infrastructure in place.
Though am not a fan of this govt, but to say they have spent 10 trillion in 2 years is far from the truth. Budget estimates are actually different from reality. They are just projections or intention and sometimes never realised due to so many reasons such as shortfall Ib revenue etc. That’s why u have deficit budget
Reno lied that Jonathan constructed roads in Ekiti state. Where are the roads?
Your comment..Reno lied about Baro dredging in niger state and Zungero Hydro power plant. The Baro dredging was initiated and started during late Umaru yaradua administration but was stopped after the demised of yaradua. while Zungeru Hydro power was a mere inauguration and not even d community whose lands were collected have been paid. Let Reno get his facts right and stop engaging in unnecessary propagader