I won't run Nigeria as a ZOO - Jonathan responds to Radio Biafra

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday promised that he would not run Nigeria like a zoo when elected for the second time. This was an obvious response to Radio Biafra's consistent reference to Nigeria as a Zoo, where only animals live based on the manner things are done in the country. 

He said he would not preside over an administration under which Nigerians would be thinking they are in a zoo where small animals would be afraid of the big ones. 

Jonathan made the promise during the Peoples Democratic Party presidential rally held at the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin, Kwara State. He promised that his government would be devoid of intimidation, and would allow Nigerians to express their minds without any fear of intimidation. 

“My message to you is that we will work with you to ensure that Nigerians are free. We will ensure that you are not governed by intimidation. 

 “You must be able to express yourself without fear of intimidation. That is why I signed the Freedom of Information Act. We will not allow a situation where Nigerians will think they are in a zoo where small animals are afraid of the big ones.” 

Jonathan noted that his administration was forming a government of young minds because of its conviction that Nigeria belongs to the youth. He said since the inception of his administration, he had shown commitment to reposition the country. Affirming that his administration had done so much that he would not disappoint Nigerians. 

He mentioned some of the areas his administration had made giant leaps to include railway, health care, agriculture and the economy. Jonathan recalled that the nation’s economy had grown under his watch to become the largest in Africa. This, he said, was not achieved by chance. He said the feat was achieved by the commitment of the economic team that is working day and night. 

The President said world bodies such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, the Cable News Network and others had spoken in support of the visible growth in the nation’s economy. He wondered if Nigerians who criticise his government’s economic policies are more brilliant than the world bodies. He warned such people to stop deceiving Nigerians. Earlier, Vice President Namadi Sambo had said that the present administration had transformed the nation’s economy to become the best in Africa. He said the administration transformed the power sector to a stage that the nation now generates over 4,000MW contrary to the about 2,000MW at inception.