President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his wife and other occupants of the offices of the first lady across the nation “are not spending government money,” but that the platform has become veritable means of mobilising women for national development.
Jonathan’s position was a response to the complaints on social media that the offices constitute unnecessary burden to government, as they are avenues through which public resources are frittered away.
The President, in an argument tweeted by his Special Assistant on New Media, Reno Omokri, said, “I can tell you that these offices (of first ladies) are helping to mobilise the women.
“Nigerian women, I don’t believe that you are designed by God to pound yam for me, to be a baby factory,” he said.
He boasted that his administration had made remarkable achievements in women empowerment, with several women getting key political appointments.
The President also did self-evaluation on key areas of governance on Monday as the campaign trains of the two leading presidential contenders moved around the country.
Among the areas he mentioned was education. If re-elected, he said, he would not build prisons for Nigerians but more schools.
“I believe in you, I love you. We will work hard to improve the quality of our lives. A lot of people are coming to deceive you that they will do things they had opportunity to do that they never did. This government has built more tertiary institutions than any other government. We’ve built 14 universities.
“We are creating future leaders. We don’t believe that you must be of a very high age to lead,” Jonathan, who is seeking a second term, said.
He promised to use technology to deal with corruption, a national disgrace his administration has thus far been severely accused of, saying several people have used corruption to enrich themselves.
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