The Federal Government on Monday asked the opposition to put politics aside and assist in the development of the country in the interest of ordinary Nigerians, saying President Goodluck Jonathan had been able to address the wrongs committed inNigeria for the past 50 years.
Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke, said this during the commencement of stakeholders’ debate of the mid-term report of the Jonathan’s administration in Abuja.
Duke said, “This is bringing governance to the door steps of people, opening it up for concrete evaluation, analysis and contribution by Nigerians and often times for people who play more politics than governance. They like to dwell on peripheral issues rather than the substance of governance.
“I think we need to really know this President in depth. I have the privilege of sitting with the President in the cabinet and this is a man whose background has adequately prepared him for the vicissitudes of life and the challenges faced by each Nigerian.
“He is ready to open up his government for constructive criticism and for participation. This can be very annoying especially to those who expected little or nothing from this government but have seen that government has moved.The challenge is for us to put politics aside and face the development of this country in the interest of ordinary Nigerians.”
According to him, comparing Nigeria’s Presidency with any other in the continent will “make Nigerians to appreciate that in two years, the manand his administration have been trying to address some of the failures of the past half a century and it is an enormous task.”
Culled: Punchng