Nigeria not on auto pilot, Presidency replies Akande

The Presidency on Sunday berated Chief Bisi

Akande, the Chairman of opposition party, APC,

over his claim that “Nigeria is on auto pilot”.

Presidential Spokesperson, Dr Reuben Abati, in a

statement issued in Abuja said that Akande and his

party were “dishonest and upatriotic” in making

such claim.

“Nigeria is not on auto pilot. There is a government

in place, there is a President who is also the

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

“He is doing his very best to provide quality

leadership and to reassure Nigerians that

government stands ready always to defend their

best interest.

“To give the impression that the President is doing

nothing is dishonest,” Abati said.

Abati also faulted Akande on the claim that the

“government is mouthing meaningless phrases”.

He said, “This government is not engaging in

blame game. This government has a job to do and

it is doing the job.

“They cannot say that government is on auto pilot

in the face of all the achievements of this

administration in the rail sector, health, aviation​,

foreign relations, transportation​, trade and

investmentand in every sector.

“If Chief Akande wants to be honest with himself,

he will say the truth and the truth will be that this

country has been moved forward by President

Jonathan.

“We are not at the level we were at the time

President Jonathan assumed office​in 2011.”

Abati said that it was unfortunate that the chairman

of the APC would use the opportunity of the

situation in the country and the abduction of the​​

girls​ of GSSC, Chibok, Borno State to engage in

partisan blackmail.

He stressed that the issue of national security

should go beyond partisan politics.​​

“We are on top of the situation’ that Chief Akande

is referred to i​s an English idiom and indeed, the

government is on top of the situation.

“Government’s primary responsibility is to ensure

that when issues come up, it stands firm to do its

very best to protect the people.

“This administration has continually showed

courage and commitment in the face of whatever

challenge that may arise,” he said.

Abati said that the administration welcomed

suggestions and recommendations from well

meaning Nigerians.

He also said that the recommendations made by

Akande in his piece were things that were already

in place.

“These are steps that had already been taken by

this administration. So there is nothing original in

his recommendations that is unknown to the

administration,” he said.

Abati stressed that the period should notbe used

as a time for politicking,campaigning for 2015 and

trying to run down the country.