PDP, Jonathan almost destroyed Nigeria – El-Rufai

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Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, on Friday said the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government inherited a country at the tip of failure from the Peoples Democratic Party when President Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated on May 29, 2015.

He said the kind of underhand dealings that went unchallenged under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan are stranger than fiction.

El-Rufai spoke at the opening of a three-day retreat organised for State House correspondents in Kaduna.

The retreat with the theme, “Journalism and the change mantra, State House in focus” is orgnised by the Presidency and is being hosted by the Kaduna State Government.

In his speech titled “The choices before the State House Press Corps in enabling change,” the governor said consequences of the incompetence and thievery that reigned under Jonathan are only becoming clear to all.

He said the PDP simply ran the nation’s economy aground in what he called its 16 years of imperial rule.

He said, “The responsibility that has been thrust in the hands of the new government is immense. The APC inherited a country at the tip of failure.

“As is becoming clearer by the day, some of the things that went on under the previous government are stranger than fiction.

“The consequences of the incompetence, the thievery and the divisive ethos that reigned are only becoming clear.

“Nigerians are only beginning to realise that the Jonathan government, despite years of $100 oil, was borrowing to pay salaries. The PDP simply ran this economy aground.

“Our party and our president will do their level best to pick up the pieces, restore economic vitality and make life better for Nigerians.”

The governor however said that spirit of determination and commitment to positive change has to be actively shared by a critical mass of Nigerians.

He said change cannot abide when after voting out the PDP at the centre, Nigerians retain the party’s ways and habits.

He noted that journalism has an important role in the change mantra.

The governor said, “Tough decisions are on the horizon. Will the media afford a platform for a fair discussion of the tough choices that are looming?

“As the quest for accountability continues, will the narrative seek to uphold the public interest, or will it side with the formidable artillery corruption can deploy in its attempt to fight back.

“The choice before us is whether you help corruption to fight back, enabling the corrupt to protect their ill-acquired privileges or help the Buhari administration foster accountability and further the public interest.

“It is a stark choice between instant gratification of getting a piece of the corruption or sacrificing that for a better today and a more secure, fairer and prosperous tomorrow for our children.”

Source: Punch