Abusing me not beneficial to your states, Jonathan tells governors

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday excoriated Nigerian Governors attacking him and his office and added that doing so will not be beneficial to their various States.
The President who said this while playing host to a delegation from Anambra State led by Governor Peter Obi said it will be more beneficial for the Governors to maintain a good relationship with the centre while they concentrate on the development of their States.


“A number of politicians feel that the best thing to do is to be abusing Mr. President, abusing the Federal Government and so on,” the President told the delegation who was in the presidential villa to inform him about the imminent exit of Governor Obi from office.
The delegation comprised of leaders of both from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA in Anambra as well as Willie Obiano, the Governor elect of the State.

“If you are elected to develop your state, I think the best thing is to have good relationship with the centre; whether you have a pin or you don’t have but one day it will come. Wearing boxing gloves, jumping into the boxing ring to face Mr. President does not help the development of any state,” the President added.
He however noted that Governor Obi is different as he was able to manage the State House of Assembly without any crisis even though it was dominated by members of another political party.

“He has shown very clearly that he is a politician that believes in the people not for himself. We thank you for all these and on our own part, we promise that this relationship we have with Peter Obi, the same relationship we will also have with the incoming governor and deputy,” the President who enjoin a very cordial relationship with the Governor who was elected on the platform of APGA added.

While thanking the President for his support to the outgoing Governor, the delegation implored the President to extend the same support to Obiano who will be sworn in later this month.
“We humbly ask that you embrace him ( Obiano), partner with him and assist and guide him as you have done with Gov. Peter Obi. For that, we the people of Anambra State shall be eternally grateful,” Professor ABC Nwosu, a former minister who spoke on behalf of the delegation said.
Nwosu added that the tenure of the departing Governor has been fruitful for the people of Anambra State inspite of the political odds he encountered in office.

While he noted that history will judge Obi very well, Nwosu noted that the support of President Jonathan contributed to the success achieved by the Governor.
The former minister also thanked the President for all he has done for the State, including the promise to flag-off the second Niger Bridge

“Your compact and article of faith with the people of Anambra is a solid one. As you have cared for, and shown us much love, we too, shall reciprocate in equal measures”.
In his reply, President Jonathan also thanked the delegation for the support they gave him during the 2011 elections. He added that he would be in Anambra on March 10 for the ‘ground breaking ceremony’ of the Second Niger Bridge.

The President said the ground breaking ceremony for the building of the bridge has earlier been postponed to ensure that the finances were worked out.
The President added that the challenges being faced by Nigeria is transient and the country will soon overcome them.

The delegation included Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe; former Anambra governor, Chinwoke Mbadinuju; PDP spokesperson, Olisa Metuh; and foremost constitutional lawyer, Ben Nwabueze. the deputy governor, Emeka Sibeudu; governor elect, Willie Obiano; deputy governor elect, Nkem Okeke among others.