According to Daily Post, a former minister has delivered a fiery critique of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, insisting his comments stem purely from governance concerns, not ethnic prejudice. He argued that Jonathan, despite hailing from the South-South, failed to initiate or complete critical projects that could have transformed the region during his time in office.
“I detest ethnic politics with every fiber of my being,” he stated, stressing that his criticisms were rooted in accountability. Drawing from former Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s idea of “Progressive Corruption,” he explained that some past leaders, though corrupt, at least reinvested stolen wealth into local industries and jobs. In his view, today’s leaders simply move funds abroad for personal luxury, leaving nothing for citizens.
He argued that while no president can develop all parts of Nigeria equally, it is reasonable to expect significant improvements in their home region as a lasting legacy. The South-South, he noted, has minimal ethnic tensions, making it ideal for inclusive governance.
The former minister recounted personally ensuring that roads and water projects were completed in Jonathan’s hometown, yet the East-West Road remained neglected. He described the stretch from Mbiama to Yenagoa as nearly impassable, criticizing Jonathan for relying on helicopter travel instead of addressing the poor state of the roads.
Turning to current projects, he condemned the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, labeling it “a road of fraud” and claiming the completion of the Oron-to-Calabar segment would have effectively finished the East-West Road. He questioned why Jonathan ignored such an opportunity despite having “enormous resources” at his disposal.
