President Goodluck Jonathan came under criticism
from his Facebook friends on Tuesday after he
posted his Christmas message on the social
networking site .
The President in the message said he "personally"
instructed government officials to make conditions
favourable for Nigerians to celebrate the Yuletide.
The airports, he said, for instance, had been
given a "facelift", adding that the terminals were
rehabilitated and the runways upgraded ahead of
the festive season.
He wrote, "I want to seize this opportunity to wish
you and your loved ones a merry Christmas and a
happy New Year in advance. I feel the pains of
Nigerians and that is why this Yuletide I have
personally instructed that our roads be worked
on to enable you and your loved ones to travel
safely for the holidays.
"Not done, we ensured that for the first time in
decades, the cross country services (Lagos to
Kano with stops in cities along the route) of the
Nigerian Railway Corporation were revived just
prior to the holidays to provide Nigerian masses
with an inexpensive alternative to road and air
transportation.
"This administration also took steps to increase
power generation by remaining true to the
Timelines of the Roadmap to Power Sector
Reform, which has seen history made on Friday,
December 21, when Nigeria's power generation
hit an all-time high of just over 4,500 MW."
But no sooner had Jonathan posted the message on his
wall than it was greeted with a barrage of criticisms
from his friends.
While a few praised and advised the President on
how to tackle the problems bedevilling the
country, many others faulted his submissions.
One of his friends, Kaycee Aloy-Obi wrote, "Mr.
President hold your greetings. You and your family are
having great celebration. A litre of petrol is sold at N110-
N120, against N97 which is the official price. There is
unprecedented traffic jam on Ore-Benin road due to bad
roads.
"People cannot go around to visit love ones
because of insecurity. Bury your head in shame
with your 4,500 MW when South Africa is
generating 50,000 MW. It is paradoxical that
many Nigerians are having dry Christmas in midst
of plenty."
Yusuf Suleiman, asked the president to match his words
with actions, adding that his "advisers are not telling you
the true picture of what is happening."
He said, "In Nigeria today, under your watch, the
country recorded the highest looting of our
treasury, and you didn't do anything. We also
have seen how citizens were massacred, in fact,
the highest since civil war ended (and) your
government is not doing enough to stop that."
Also, Bethel Vincent, wrote, "Haba! Mr. President, you
know say lie no good at all. Why post something we have
not witnessed, yet you refer to us as friends and fellow
Nigerians. As I am talking to you, my flat is running on
generator; Benin-Auchi road is filled with potholes and
you are talking about airport, how (many) Nigerians can
afford air transport?"
A friend, Ajoba David, wrote, "Sir,
congratulations! Merry Christmas and a happy
new year. What do we expect as a New Year gift
come Tuesday, January 1st? Well, I hope it is not
going to be another fuel subsidy razzmatazz like
we experienced last year.
"Nevertheless, Nigerians have yet to recuperate from
the fever that was injected into their veins last January
as a result of the purportedly and verbally(sic) removal
of the fuel subsidy which Nigerians have yet to see any
sign of seriousness in bringing (those) culpable to book."
