Presidential Media Chat: 10 questions for President Jonathan

The programme will be aired by 7:00 p.m.

President Goodluck Jonathan will this evening host a televised live media chat with some Nigerian journalists during which he is expected to respond to questions on a number of topical national issues.

Mr. Jonathan’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, said in a statement that the Presidential Media Chat, to be aired live on major television and radio stations in the country, would begin at 7 p.m.

The presidency has in the past promised to entertain questions by telephone calls, sms, and via social media.

In case you are able to reach the president on the programme today, we suggest you put the questions below to him, in addition to others you might have.

We also urge the journalists, who will interview the president, to consider asking him some of the questions suggested below.

1. The Federal Government claims the economy is strong and stable, with inflation rate at single digit, while external reserves remain robust. But the impact of all these is hardly felt by the people with unemployment rate still very high. Why is it difficult to translate the ‘economic successes’ to job creation? Where are the 3 million jobs that government said the Dangote Committee would create before the end of last year?
2. The same FRCN report upon which you based your suspension of Lamido Sanusi also recommended the suspension of other deputy governors of the CBN; why did you ignore that part of the recommendation?
3. There have been at least five government reports (KPMG, House of Reps, Nuhu Ribadu, Aig-Imokhuede, and NEITI) that have shown that Nigeria’s petroleum ministry and its subsidiaries are either corruptly or inefficiently managed. Why does it appear impossible for you to remove the petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, despite these reports?
4. The House of Reps has recommended the cancellation of OPL 245 sale to Shell and AGIP; and the investigation and prosecution of all officials, public and private involved in the fraudulent transaction. At what point did you as president get involved in the Malabu OPL 245 deal, and will you implement the House resolutions?
5. The federal government in December shared Nigeria’s ecological funds to 17 states whose governors are loyal to you. In fact, you reportedly ordered that the N34 billion naira be shared to only states whose governors are either in PDP or loyal to you like Ondo and Anambra. Are you saying none of the 16 APC controlled states deserved the ecological fund?
6. The Minister of Petroleum Resources announced plans by government to organise another oil bloc licensing round early this year. But, prospective investors say the process is shrouded in secrecy, as the guidelines and the application forms are nowhere to be found. What is the situation now with the oil bloc allocation process? Does the presidency intend to use it as political bait for 2014 as is being rumoured?
7. The sale of the refineries has been dogged by controversies. The minister of petroleum had announced the commencement of the privatisation process by BPE and the constitution of a committee headed by her, only for the Presidency to deny later that there was no such plan. What is the true state on the four public refineries?
8. Following the recent upsurge of violence in the North East, is it safe to say that the government’s strategy in fighting Boko Haram has failed? Is the government considering a change of strategy? Apart from direct military approach, what other means is the government employing to stop these senseless killings?
9. The killings in Plateau continue unabated as hardly does any week go by without scores of people killed by various ethno-religious groups and armed men. Its four years since you assumed office as president, what really are you doing or not doing as C-in-C to resolve the Plateau crisis?
10. As an individual, what kind of Nigeria would you want? A truly federal system, a confederacy, or a unitary one like we currently practice? Would your personal choice influence your choice of delegates for the National Conference?