Stop the insults, GEJ’s ministers warn Buhari

The ministers, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, have risen in his support warning President Muhammadu Buhari to stop unwarranted attacks on his predecessor and show due respect to him and his administration.
The warning is coming on the heels of the torrents of allegations of corruption against Jonathan’s administration in the ongoing probe of past civilian administrations that ruled from 2007 to May 29, 2015.
The minsters in a joint statement released in Abuja on Monday and signed by former National Planning Minister, Dr Abubakar Suleiman, said that while they agreed that Buhari and his party had the right to chart their own path, they considered the vilification of the Jonathan’s administration as ill-intentioned, unduly partisan and in bad faith.
They faulted the portrayal of each and every member of the Jonathan administration as corrupt and irresponsible, saying it was wrong to deliberately rubbish the achievements recorded by the administration.
The former ministers asked Buhari to go ahead with his probe but cautioned him that everything should follow due process and respect for human rights.
“We, the ministers who served under the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, have watched with increasing alarm and concern the concerted effort by the Buhari administration and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to condemn, ridicule and undermine the efforts of that administration, in addition to impugning the integrity of its individual members.
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The statement read, “While we concede that every administration has the right to chart its own path as it deems fit, we nevertheless consider the vilification of the Jonathan administration, to be ill-intentioned, unduly partisan, and in bad faith.
“The effort that has been made to portray each and every member of the Jonathan administration as corrupt and irresponsible, in an orchestrated and vicious trial by media, has created a lynch mentality that discredits our honest contributions to the growth and development of our beloved nation.
“We are proud to have served Nigeria and we boldly affirm that we did so diligently and to the best of our abilities. The improvements that have been noticed today in the power sector, in national security, and in social services and other sectors did not occur overnight. They are products of solid foundations laid by the same Jonathan administration.
“Contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption, rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process”.
They continued, that “The same administration promoted the rule of law, free speech, fundamental human rights, and a robust freedom of information regime. Women’s rights to participate in public life and the Federal Character principle as well as other Constitutional principles were also respected. In every respect, our administration promoted inclusive governance and encouraged all stakeholders including the private sector to play key roles in the transformation of Nigeria.
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“It should also not be forgotten that the Jonathan administration strengthened electoral institutions and created a peaceful environment for democracy to thrive. On this score, it is sad and ironic that the chief beneficiaries of that same legacy are the most vociferous today in condemning President Jonathan and his team.
“In addition, the Buhari administration should be fair enough to acknowledge the good works of the Jonathan administration. No administration can be either completely bad or completely good. President Jonathan’s achievements in moving this country to greater heights deserve to be duly acknowledged. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to build on these achievements.
“We also urge him to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a fair and non-partisan manner, in line with due process, and not as a political witch-hunt.
“We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all Nigerians equally and with the fear of God,” the ministers said in the statement.

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