''My administration had a good team'' – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has said he worked with a great team.This was contained in separate congratulatory letters to the new President of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina; and the Vice-President of the World Bank, Ms Arunma Oteh. 

 

Akinwunmi served as agriculture minister under the Jonathan administration while Oteh served as the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Jonathan said Adesina’s appointment “attests to the fact that my administration had a good team that managed the affairs of the country.”

In his letter to his former aides, Jonathan however celebrated his time in government.

To Adesina, he wrote, 

“Given your exemplary record of performance, while serving as the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development in my cabinet, I have no doubt that you will deploy your energy and the bank’s resources to ensure that Africa experiences a new era of accelerated development.

“You were not only a critical voice in my economic team, you also walked the talk and earned the praise of our countrymen and women by ensuring that Nigeria’s quest for self-sufficiency in food production became achievable dream.”

The former President, in his letter to Oteh, praised the former SEC boss’ knowledge of capital markets.He stated, 

“I am delighted that you are going to your new job, fresh from the experience of having led the recovery and growth initiatives of the Nigerian Bourse in the wake of the decline, occasioned by recent global economic recession and financial crisis.

“This is a clear testimony to your capacity, high integrity, and tenacity of purpose. It is also a vindication of the decision of my administration to stand by you, believing in your abilities and competence, even when questions were being raised in some quarters over your choice.

But the Peoples Democratic Party has supported Jonathan’s assessment of his administration, saying, “The former President has hit the nail on the head.”

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Oliah Metuh, said that Jonathan’s assessment of his team and administration was based on evidence.

According to him, the international appointments given to members of the Jonathan team are pointers to the fact that those in the team are not only competent, but also capable.

He said that the achievements of the Jonathan administration were practical and could not be politicised and that they were evident in all sectors, including agriculture, economy and communications.