One of the World’s foremost economists, Professor George Ayittey has lashed out at the President of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GEJ), describing him as “a joke” and a mediocre President after his (GEJ’s) encounter with the media last night.
According to Professor Ayittey, Nigeria “deserves a better leader”, judging by GEJ’s poor, almost unfortunate responses to some of the questions posed to him by the Nigerian media last night.
The Professor indicated that GEJ’s refusal to declare his assets and his failure to tackle the Boko Haram crisis suggest that he is of an unsound mind.

He therefore called on Nigerians to rid themselves of GEJ as soon as possible.
He said: “Nigerians should not put up with such mediocrity and should mount a RECALL GEJ campaign. They should check Chapter VI of their Constitution. See Sections 143 and 144 about removing the President and Vice-President from office other than through elections”.
“137; 1c: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind.”

Professor Ayittey, a Ghanaian economist, author, president of the Free Africa Foundation in Washington DC, professor at American University, and an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, made this known on twitter this morning.
Read the entire tweet below:

[img]Picture[/img]
Professor George Ayittey

“Look, this GEJ guy is a joke – a meretricious mediocrity. Nigerians deserve a better leader. Fancy his statements and responses to questions in a media chat on June 24, 2012:

• He has not visited Borno state, the center of Boko Haram attacks, because the airport there was not functional at the time he planned to visit. “And we did not want to land somewhere and fly in to Maiduguri with a helicopter for obvious reasons.”

[Why is the airport not functioning? Why hasn’t it been fixed? And are there no ROADS into Borno State?]

• Asked why he had not declared his assets, Mr. Jonathan replied in an impatient tone, stating “I don’t give a damn” about declaration of assets. He related that he had gone to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua to caution “that we should not play to the hands of some people [by openly declaring their assets].” Mr. Jonathan added, “That is a matter of principle and I am not going to declare. It is not the president declaring his asset that will end Boko Haram.”
• The president said it’s a matter of principle and whether he is criticised from “head to toe” he will not declare his assets. “It is not right,” he said. “I didn’t want even want to declare my assets as VP” but was forced by the then president, Umara Musa Yar’Adua. He said asset declaration is “not the right thing to do.”

[Damn it, it is a constitutional requirement to declare your assets, Mr. President. See Chapter VI, Part 1, Section 140 of Nigeria’s Constitution: “Declaration of assets and liabilities, oaths of President.” And what the hell has Boko Haram got to do with declaration of assets?]

• Agriculture: The president said his government is revolutionizing agriculture in Nigeria.”We are giving cotton seeds free in the North” he said.

[This is the most crass definition of an “agricultural revolution” – by providing free seeds.]

• The President said the government is doing very well in railway construction. “You may not know, but we are working,” he said. He added that his government has made a “significant progress” in railway construction. “You should commend us,” he adds.

[What “significant progress” has been made in railway construction? How many Nigerians are working on railway construction with the contract given to Chinese firms?]

• UNILAG name change: The president said what he did, in terms of law, was correct. You change the name first, then send the bill to the National Assembly later, he argues. “What we did, was the normal procedure,” he said.

[No, Mr. Presient, you had it backward. Before you change the name of University of Lagos (UNILAG), you consult with the university and the student body, which you did NOT do.]

• Crude Oil Theft: “The stealing of crude oil is a Nigerian phenomenon,” the president said. He adds that it has gone cancerous. “We will stop it, but it is like allowing a cancerous cell to grow into a major tumor.”

[Mr. President, theft of crude oil is a CRIME, not a “Nigerian phenomenon or a disease afflicting Nigerians. Describing it that way means you are CLUELESS about how to solve it.]

Nigerians should not put up with such mediocrity and should mount a RECALL GEJ campaign.
They should check Chapter VI of their Constitution. See Sections 143 and 144 about removing the President and Vice-President from office other than through elections.

137; 1c: “A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President if under the law in any part of Nigeria, he is adjudged to be a lunatic or otherwise declared to be of unsound mind.” Link: http:///MSxUws ”

Professor Ayittey holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of Ghana, Legon, an M.A. from the University of Western Ontario in Canada, and a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba. He has taught at Wayne State College and Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania.
He held a National Fellowship at the Hoover Institution in 1988-89, and then joined The Heritage Foundation as a Bradley Resident Scholar.
He founded The Free Africa Foundation in 1993, to serve as a catalyst for reform in Africa.
In 2008 Dr. Ayittey was listed by Foreign Policy as one of the “Top 100 Public Intellectuals” who “are shaping the tenor of our time”. He lives in Lorton, Virginia.
What do you make of his comments? Is Professor Ayittey justified in his criticism of GEJ?

http://samuelobour.com/2012/06/25/media-chat-ghanaian-professor-blasts-goodluck-jonathan-says-this-guy-is-a-joke/

the world renowned economics "professor" is spouting off his mouth while millions of ghanaians went to beg hungry despite his economic genius.

Whatever!!! GEJ till 2019!!!

The man is right, but he should have used his title to call him instead of joke I.e CLUELESS
Buhari till PEJ speak english fluently

Geez! Distribution of cotton seeds as agric reformation? The funny thing is that he has been distributing seeds since he assumed office, doing the same thing over and over again without results, this is clearly one of the traits of people with 'unsound mind'.

I just agree with this prof, our leader is going gaga!

Professor Ayittey, a Ghanaian
economist, author, president
of the Free Africa Foundation
in Washington DC, professor
at American University, and an
associate scholar at the
Foreign Policy Research
Institute, made this known on
twitter this morning.

ahhh!

Tinubu succeeded in recruiting this man as one of his paid agents!

GEJ may be a joke but prof I think ghana is fast becoming a joke too.

Tolexander:
ahhh!

Tinubu succeeded in recruiting this man as one of his paid agents!

Tinubu na real Jagaban.

He has recruited from Michelle Obama to New York Times to Deutsche-Welle for APC against GEJ.

I thought they said Ghana cedi is worthless

tit:
the world renowned economics "professor" is spouting off his mouth while millions of ghanaians went to beg hungry despite his economic genius.

Have you got no values?
Must you defend GEJ blindly

SMH

tit:
the world renowned economics "professor" is spouting off his mouth while millions of ghanaians went to beg hungry despite his economic genius.

Nigeria (under GEJ) has made bad choices, not hard choices. - Hillary Clinton (May, 2014)

Nothing good comes out of jonathan and, No good comment comes to Nigeria in the name of jonathan.
Every dog and jackal our there now think they can talk to Nigeria simply because we have this 'effete' as a president.
Gej is a curse and a disgrace to this nation.

Jonaa oooo!

temitemi1:
Whatever!!! GEJ till 2019!!!

One of the fools,you're a big disappointment that doesn't know what's going on,you just hear your parents say GEJ till 2019 and so you have to follow that too?

For the first time, we are celebrating christmas without the price of food items rising. This is happening while the exchange rate is going up. It goes a long way to proove that this administration has done a lot in making us food sufficient. In the past, the price of rice could have shot into the air, but with improved local production, supply is outwiting the demand. Economic indices are calculated based on the living standards of the populace. The present government understands the role of SMEs in growing the economy. Giving opportunity and level playing ground for all to survive is what makes the difference between the USA and nigeria. He is seriously destroying oligarchy and promoting capitalism which promotes hard work. Gone are the days when people sit at home after school waiting for government employment. Today's nigeria requires you to use your academic skills to employ others. This is what drives both the chinese and the american economy.

Corruption is not fought on tv screens as Obasanjo did, corruption and theft are better fought by strengthening institutions and providing internal frameworks for checks and balances to take place continually. This will make fighting corruption a continual affair not minding the government or party in power. The use of biometrics in civil service is a typical example of using institutions to fight theft and corruption. Our long stay with the military has made us loose touch with due process ways of doing things. You do not expect the judge to throw somebody into prison without evidence of committing any crime. I will continue this write-up another day.

Doyin sef sabi

iamrealdeji:

One of the fools,you're a big disappointment that doesn't know what's going on,you just hear your parents say GEJ till 2019 and so you have to follow that too?

typical of pdp apologists, temitemi is a bigger duck than the rest; he sees nothing, says nothing or write nothing.

tuborme:
For the first time, we are celebrating christmas without the price of food items rising. This is happening while the exchange rate is going up. It goes a long way to proove that this administration has done a lot in making us food sufficient. In the past, the price of rice could have shot into the air, but with improved local production, supply is outwiting the demand. Economic indices are calculated based on the living standards of the populace. The present government understands the role of SMEs in growing the economy. Giving opportunity and level playing ground for all to survive is what makes the difference between the USA and nigeria. He is seriously destroying oligarchy and promoting capitalism which promotes hard work. Gone are the days when people sit at home after school waiting for government employment. Today's nigeria requires you to use your academic skills to employ others. This is what drives both the chinese and the american economy.

Corruption is not fought on tv screens as Obasanjo did, corruption and theft are better fought by strengthening institutions and providing internal frameworks for checks and balances to take place continually. This will make fighting corruption a continual affair not minding the government or party in power. The use of biometrics in civil service is a typical example of using institutions to fight theft and corruption. Our long stay with the military has made us loose touch with due process ways of doing things. You do not expect the judge to throw somebody into prison without evidence of committing any crime. I will continue this write-up another day.

I encourage you to finish this writeup and append your real name to it.
You shall be remembered for being a GEJ apologist in the future when scales fall from people's eyes and they judge each government for what it really achieved.
Ride on brother...

tuborme:
For the first time, we are celebrating christmas without the price of food items rising. This is happening while the exchange rate is going up. It goes a long way to proove that this administration has done a lot in making us food sufficient. In the past, the price of rice could have shot into the air, but with improved local production, supply is outwiting the demand. Economic indices are calculated based on the living standards of the populace. The present government understands the role of SMEs in growing the economy. Giving opportunity and level playing ground for all to survive is what makes the difference between the USA and nigeria. He is seriously destroying oligarchy and promoting capitalism which promotes hard work. Gone are the days when people sit at home after school waiting for government employment. Today's nigeria requires you to use your academic skills to employ others. This is what drives both the chinese and the american economy.

Corruption is not fought on tv screens as Obasanjo did, corruption and theft are better fought by strengthening institutions and providing internal frameworks for checks and balances to take place continually. This will make fighting corruption a continual affair not minding the government or party in power. The use of biometrics in civil service is a typical example of using institutions to fight theft and corruption. Our long stay with the military has made us loose touch with due process ways of doing things. You do not expect the judge to throw somebody into prison without evidence of committing any crime. I will continue this write-up another day.

See Word


Make our institutions

Transparent

Accountable

And

Its files and operations accessible to the public

WhiteTechnology:



See Word


Make our institutions

Transparent

Accountable

And

Its files and operations accessible to the public

Go to the ministries and get them. The FOI bill gives you the right to head to court if you do not get it. I blame our journalists for being too lazy to carry out investigations...they prefer to publish rumours instead of facts thereby heating up the polity. Investigative journalism exposes roths in government and not some speculative write-ups. I had expected APC to bring up a better candidate without political baggages like Buhari to challenge the PDP. It is only in nigeria that people who have made hate and sectarian speeches will come up to seek elective positions.

tuborme:


Go to the ministries and get them. The FOI bill gives you the right to head to court if you do not get it. I blame our journalists for being too lazy to carry out investigations...they prefer to publish rumours instead of facts thereby heating up the polity. Investigative journalism exposes roths in government and not some speculative write-ups. I had expected APC to bring up a better candidate without political baggages like Buhari to challenge the PDP. It is only in nigeria that people who have made hate and sectarian speeches will come up to seek elective positions.

Thanks

Its a shame Fashola opposed FOI

tuborme:
For the first time, we are celebrating christmas without the price of food items rising. This is happening while the exchange rate is going up. It goes a long way to proove that this administration has done a lot in making us food sufficient. In the past, the price of rice could have shot into the air, but with improved local production, supply is outwiting the demand. Economic indices are calculated based on the living standards of the populace. The present government understands the role of SMEs in growing the economy. Giving opportunity and level playing ground for all to survive is what makes the difference between the USA and nigeria. He is seriously destroying oligarchy and promoting capitalism which promotes hard work. Gone are the days when people sit at home after school waiting for government employment. Today's nigeria requires you to use your academic skills to employ others. This is what drives both the chinese and the american economy.

Corruption is not fought on tv screens as Obasanjo did, corruption and theft are better fought by strengthening institutions and providing internal frameworks for checks and balances to take place continually. This will make fighting corruption a continual affair not minding the government or party in power. The use of biometrics in civil service is a typical example of using institutions to fight theft and corruption. Our long stay with the military has made us loose touch with due process ways of doing things. You do not expect the judge to throw somebody into prison without evidence of committing any crime. I will continue this write-up another day.

This is an excellent submission . . . . . .Kudos, only those wallowing in self deceit will feel otherwise . . .

Tinubu has baught this man. In fact he is a lecturer in LASU. Lol.

tuborme:
For the first time, we are celebrating christmas without the price of food items rising. This is happening while the exchange rate is going up. It goes a long way to proove that this administration has done a lot in making us food sufficient. In the past, the price of rice could have shot into the air, but with improved local production, supply is outwiting the demand. Economic indices are calculated based on the living standards of the populace. The present government understands the role of SMEs in growing the economy. Giving opportunity and level playing ground for all to survive is what makes the difference between the USA and nigeria. He is seriously destroying oligarchy and promoting capitalism which promotes hard work. Gone are the days when people sit at home after school waiting for government employment. Today's nigeria requires you to use your academic skills to employ others. This is what drives both the chinese and the american economy.

Corruption is not fought on tv screens as Obasanjo did, corruption and theft are better fought by strengthening institutions and providing internal frameworks for checks and balances to take place continually. This will make fighting corruption a continual affair not minding the government or party in power. The use of biometrics in civil service is a typical example of using institutions to fight theft and corruption. Our long stay with the military has made us loose touch with due process ways of doing things. You do not expect the judge to throw somebody into prison without evidence of committing any crime. I will continue this write-up another day.

Please understand that there is little money in circulation and the average family has very little disposable income. In this atmosphere price rises are unthinkable because the demand for the product will collapse. In better years Nigerians have seen evidence of Christmas from the second week of November. Today given a chance many will even go to the office to avoid the attendant expenditure. Go and ask all the marketers how business is. My office is in a central part of the island, to spot a Christmas hamper has become a rare thing, printers are struggling to even find cards and calendars to print. How many people are sewing new clothes for Christmas? Please your argument is false and deceptive. People have little to spend so the market recognises that and keeps prices steady or even drops prices to stimulate business. Basic economics.

Change2015:


Please understand that there is little money in circulation and the average family has very little disposable income. In this atmosphere price rises are unthinkable because the demand for the product will collapse. In better years Nigerians have seen evidence of Christmas from the second week of November. Today given a chance many will even go to the office to avoid the attendant expenditure. Go and ask all the marketers how business is. My office is in a central part of the island, to spot a Christmas hamper has become a rare thing, printers are struggling to even find cards and calendars to print. How many people are sewing new clothes for Christmas? Please your argument is false and deceptive. People have little to spend so the market recognises that and keeps prices steady or even drops prices to stimulate business. Basic economics.

Is the price of commodities rising.

WhiteTechnology:



Is the price of commodities rising.

Dude, do you understand basic economics and the laws of demand and supply? How can prices rise when the demand will drop as a consequence?

Goodluck administration has tried. Okonjo is better than that 'foremost' unknown economist

Change2015:


Dude, do you understand basic economics and the laws of demand and supply? How can prices rise when the demand will drop as a consequence?

How do you know that its a function of demand

hydeka:
GEJ may be a joke but prof I think ghana is fast becoming a joke too.

Ghanaian now be a joke. But Nigeria has been a joke for too long. We don't deserve all these. What does Ghana have? With all we have,... And nothing to show but many wealthy billionaires

WhiteTechnology:



How do you know that its a function of demand

Because if there was an excess of supply, then prices would drop. As it is many Nigerians have made their economies, few people dare to dream of Turkey for Christmas, decorations are barely selling, business is close to stagnant. This is what the government has reduced us to. Permanent managers of diminishing resources, while they gather 4bn at a dinner party to use for election spending!

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]

Change2015:


Please understand that there is little money in circulation and the average family has very little disposable income. In this atmosphere price rises are unthinkable because the demand for the product will collapse. In better years Nigerians have seen evidence of Christmas from the second week of November. Today given a chance many will even go to the office to avoid the attendant expenditure. Go and ask all the marketers how business is. My office is in a central part of the island, to spot a Christmas hamper has become a rare thing, printers are struggling to even find cards and calendars to print. How many people are sewing new clothes for Christmas? Please your argument is false and deceptive. People have little to spend so the market recognises that and keeps prices steady or even drops prices to stimulate business. Basic economics.

I did my survey in the food market yesterday, I expect you to also take your complimentary survey to the food market and come up with results. Food products does not know hard times and good times, people are bound to eat. I wish to also let you know that there is higher demand for rice this period because of the election year...our politicians, due to the precarious nature of our politics are buying up tonnes of rice for campaigns; this has failed as expected to drive up the price. A lot of factors can affect different markets at different times but food and shelter remain constants that people desire always even in a state of war. It is based on this fact that economic indices of a particular place at a particular time are calculated based on affordability/availability of housing and staple food commodities.

I expect you therefore to take your survey to merchants of staple food products as I did and come up with results.

I admit there may be some states were things are little difficult because of unpaid salaries like they have in rivers state; were judicial workers and primary school teachers are owed upto 8 months salaries.

tuborme:
[font=Lucida Sans Unicode][/font]

I did my survey in the food market yesterday, I expect you to also take your complimentary survey to the food market and come up with results. Food products does not know hard times and good times, people are bound to eat. I wish to also let you know that there is higher demand for rice this period because of the election year...our politicians, due to the precarious nature of our politics are buying up tonnes of rice for campaigns; this has failed as expected to drive up the price. A lot of factors can affect different markets at different times but food and shelter remain constants that people desire always even in a state of war. It is based on this fact that economic indices of a particular place at a particular time are calculated based on affordability/availability of housing and staple food commodities.

I expect you therefore to take your survey to merchants of staple food products as I did and come up with results.

I admit there may be some states were things are little difficult because of unpaid salaries like they have in rivers state; were judicial workers and primary school teachers are owed upto 8 months salaries.

This is amusing. So you imagine that a political party looking to distribute rice will go to Iddo or whatever market you imagine? When they have the phone numbers of the major importers at hand? Even the t-shirt and face caps, pens etc have been ordered from China already and will further stall demand in the local market. Sure food is an essential good, but what is the point of a product that does not sell out in December? Is it in January that we will have more money, or bills to meet. Electricity prices are rising, taxes are rising, where is all this disposable income you imagine people have? As for housing, please have a look at swathes of lekki and even ikoyi. Empty estates, empty apartment blocks, rents do not rise in this area, only service charges (after all who has a decent supply of electricity anywhere in Nigeria?) otherwise people will see better value elsewhere. Disposable income is being stretched under this government.

At the end of the day, there is only a certain volume of rice we can eat, and if it comes free from politicians then the local marketers will be deprived of those customers.