Former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and Vice Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Smart Adeyemi has said that Nigeria would have disintegrated if not for the leadership style and humble and simple manner of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Senator made the remarks in an interview with newsmen from the Vanguard on strides he made to serve his constituents.
Responding to a question on why he was confident in the Jonathan administration, he said, “Tell me the government that has ever ruled this country that has had the challenges of administration more than Goodluck. Tell me the government in Nigeria that has faced worse social disorder in any nation than Goodluck Jonathan.”
“There is no government in Nigeria that has had the burden and the pains of carrying the challenge of terrorism than Jonathan. The problem of terrorism is enough to collapse the economy. If we didn’t have the government of Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria would have broken up.
“Let me tell you, the humility and simplicity of Jonathan at the time of serious challenge that requires maybe to the thinking of some people that government should use force on Boko Haram, if you use might in a complex and diverse country like Nigeria, the consequences would have been worse. Government is not the way people see it.”
“The complexity and diversity of our nation with the burden of governance, I know it now more than before. When people talk, I keep quiet, because I am aware they don’t know the obstacles and hurdles, the consequences of comments and actions that could break up this country.
“Jonathan came at a time in this country when God wanted him to preside over Nigeria. If you have had a president that people say action government, the situation today would have being worse.”
Commenting on his empowerment programmes, the Senator disclosed that he had spent over $700,000 on empowerment intervention in his constituency which includes the construction of four cottage hospitals, provision of twenty two ambulances and other miscellaneous activities to improve the lot of the citizens in Kogi West Senatorial District.