6 January 2009
Lagos — The Action Congress (AC) has described as a gratuitous insult to all Nigerians the comments credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo that Nigerians should brace up for tough times in 2009 because of the global economic recession.
In a statement issued in Abuja Monday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Nigerians do not need any advice from a man whose lack of vision and sense of direction helped to push them into the economic and social doldrums in which they have found themselves.
"Largely due to the 8-year misrule of President Obasanjo, Nigeria and its citizens will definitely be hit harder by the global recession than they ordinarily should.
Imagine that the man who is now being sanctimonious had invested wisely in developing social infrastructure, creating jobs and enhancing the security of lives and property during his tenure.
"Imagine that the man who presided all through the years that the price of crude soared above 100 dollars had spent wisely and helped lift our nation"s economy.
Imagine that the man who had an unprecedented chance to preside over the affairs of Africa"s most populous - and perhaps most endowed - nation thrice had helped leapfrogged it to the ranks of prosperous nations, and it will not be difficult for the country to absorb the effects of the global economic downturn.
"But what did the man do? Nothing! He failed woefully due to a combination of crass incompetence, not minding the grandstanding that characterised his years in power, sheer visionlessness and dissipation of energy on vindictiveness and frivolities.
"Now, the combination of falling crude oil prices and another incompetent, clueless leadership are sure to test the will of Nigerians as they struggle to wade through the murky waters of the global economic mess in 2009.
There is no need for anyone, not the least the man who frittered away our yesterday to make our tomorrow unsure, to preach to us about the tough times ahead. "For Nigerians, these are indeed tough times:
No good roads, no health care, food prices are rising, Christmas and New Year were spent in darkness by most Nigerians, industries are closing down in droves and with them thousands of jobs are being lost, while those fortunate to still be employed have seen their purchasing power eroded by worsening economic indices,' AC said.
The party advised Obasanjo to learn to keep quiet if he has nothing meaningful to say, unless of course he feels he should continue to gloat at the misfortunes he has imposed on Nigerians who dared to reject his third term overture.
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"What do you expect from a Party of LIARs that would rather look Nigerians in the face and lie to them that their well being is better off...." Thank you for supporting Fela Kuti forsight and please listen to his comments from his Music track International Thief@Thief(ITT's). He has already inform us how Politics and appointments are form/made in goverment. unfourtunate Ribadu was use as a stooge and refuse to play ball and now a victim because he is caught between...truth and LIES.
What do you expect from a Party of LIARs that would rather look Nigerians in the face and lie to them that their well being is better off today than it was 2 years ago and that the rate and pace of our current economic development as laid out by this visionless administration engender any confidence in our future economic prospect. Perhaps we should send AC officials to Kuru for further education about what it takes to be an effective leader: A President is supposed to be honest in calling it as it and in inspiring the nation to set a visionary agenda and show courage in the face of looming global calamity to which Nigeria is not immune. Rather, Malam Yar went into hiding as usual hoping that this impending decline would just blow away. Since Yar has abdicated his responsibility as a leader with his head buried in the sand of denial, perhaps he and the AC leadership could take the time to read the following traits of a good leader: (1) Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one. - Marcus Aurelius. (2) Courage - not complacency - is our need today. Leadership not salesmanship. - John F. Kennedy. (3) Honest - Display sincerity, integrity, and candor in all your actions. Deceptive behavior will not inspire trust. (4) Competent - Base your actions on reason and moral principles. Do not make decisions based on childlike emotional desires or feelings. (5) Forward-looking - Set goals and have a vision of the future. The vision must be owned throughout the organization. Effective leaders envision what they want and how to get it. They habitually pick priorities stemming from their basic values. (6) Inspiring - Display confidence in all that you do. By showing endurance in mental, physical, and spiritual stamina, you will inspire others to reach for new heights. Take charge when necessary. (7) Intelligent - Read, study, and seek challenging assignments. (8) Fair-minded - Show fair treatment to all people. Prejudice is the enemy of justice. Display empathy by being sensitive to the feelings, values, interests, and well-being of others. (9) Broad-minded - Seek out diversity. (10) Courageous - Have the perseverance to accomplish a goal, regardless of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Display a confident calmness when under stress. (11) Straightforward - Use sound judgment to make good decisions at the right time. (12) Imaginative - Make timely and appropriate changes in your thinking, plans, and methods. Show creativity by thinking of new and better goals, ideas, and solutions to problems. Be innovative! Perhaps, Yar and the AC leadrship are waiting for the Whiteman and his Tonto to come tell them those same traits on Jan 20th for them to do what they already know but willingly deny to the good people on Nigeria.