So let’s take a look at the biggest goofs of 2014
and see how they compare with some of the
previous ones.
15. “We are committed to solving the problem in
the North-Eastern part of the country. The crisis
in the North-East is not a big deal. It is just that
we have not come together to work out
strategies to tackle the problems properly.”-
former General Officer Commanding the 82
Division of the Nigerian Army (now the
Commandant, Depot, Niigerian Army), Maj. Gen.
Shehu Yusuf, said in February, 2014.
Eavesdropper wonders why the army is still yet
to work out strategies to tackle the problem that
has proven to be such a big deal;
14. “We all bear some pains, from the highest to
the least because as a President, I may not go to
everywhere I would have loved to go, these are
some of the challenges I have to face.”-
President Jonathan admitting that Boko Haram
was restricting his movements within the
country;
13. “The press overplayed the petroleum
scandals to get at the minister. And when they
failed, they stopped.”- President Jonathan, while
defending former Aviation minister, Stella
Oduah;
12. “The Petroleum Minister (Alison Maduekwe)
has appeared before the Parliament for over 200
days… in the Nigerian Parliament you’ll agree
with me that there is more politics than work.”-
President Jonathan when asked about the
attitude of the Petroleum Minister, Diezani
Alison-Madueke to calls for her to appear before
the House of Representative members over her
alleged utilisation of public funds in hiring
private jets;
11. “I never said Boko Haram infiltrated my
cabinet. The FEC is the cabinet made up of the
President, VP and ministers, what I said is that in
“the government which is made up of three
arms.”- President Jonathan;
10. “Igbo remains one ethnic group in Nigeria
that is so devoid of any shame to show their
greed, selfishness and contempt for other ethnic
groups… the Igbo are mercenaries; they are
there for sale. If the devil were to come today to
say, ‘I am the devil about whom the Bible and
the Quran have spoken, I am prepared to give
money’, the Igbo will take the money and vote
for him. Quote me!”- Convener of the Coalition
of Northern politicians, academics, professionals
and businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said
during an interview;
9. “People do not understand the burden this
President is bearing. He’s like Jesus Christ. He’s
bearing the burden of everybody”- Senior
Special Assistant to President Goodluck
Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, while speaking about
his boss;
8. “The challenge of the country is not poverty,
but redistribution of wealth.”- President
Goodluck Jonathan said while faulting the World
Bank report which placed Nigeria among the
countries with the highest level of poverty in the
world;
7. “I don’t know where they are… there is no
confirmation of the location of the schoolgirls,
you are a journalist, you know more than me.”-
President Jonathan, while admitting that he had
no clue where the abducted Chibok girls were,
adding that the journalist asking the question
ought to know more than him;
6. “Those that died at the Immigration stampede
died as a result of impatience” – Minister of
Interior Affairs, Abba Moro;
5. “People exaggerate corruption in Nigeria. It is
not even our first or second problem, maybe the
third”- President Jonathan
4. “Over 70% of what are called corruption
(cases), even by EFCC (Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission) and other anti-corruption
agencies, is not corruption, but common
stealing.”- President Jonathan;
3. “People have been confusing corruption with
stealing. If public officers steal money they term
it under corruption… .”- President Jonathan
2. “It is not possible to steal $20bn and America
will not know. It is their money.”- President
Jonathan
1. “Do you come with two teachers? You were
not informed too? Ehn? Continue… No
problem… No problem God will see us. There is
God in everything we are doing. Those bloods
that are sharing in Borno will answer. What of
two teachers… two … eerrrm… WAEC. Two
teachers that can tell that they conducted that
exam… Do you come with any? Principal… No
too? Only you waka come? Okay. Now the first
lady is calling you. Come, I want to help you find
your baby… Your missing child. Will you keep
quiet? Chai! Chai! There is God ooo. The bloods
that we are sharing, there is God ooo. There is
God oo There is God oo (breaks down in tears)”-
the wife of the President, Patience Jonathan,
said while carrying out an inquisition into the
abduction of the Chibok girls.“Those that died at
the Immigration stampede died as a result of
impatience”- Minister of Interior Affairs, Abba
Moro;
Happy New Year