Atiku Describes Jonathan’s Government As One Of ‘Clientelism’

A leading presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar, today accused President Goodluck Jonathan of indulging in “politics of clientelism” one that only awards favours to cronies, to the detriment of accountability and full democratic participation.

Atiku, who once served as the country’s vice president, said the favours include “public sector jobs appointments, distribution of resources through licences, contracts and tax waivers” majorly to curry political gains from the beneficiaries.

Speaking through the Director General, 2015 Atiku Campaign Organisation, Prof. Babalola Aborisade during a press briefing at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta in Ogun State, the presidential aspirant said beneficiaries of the favours were by that motivated into “mobilizing political support and loyalty for their patrons.”

Citing the Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria (TAN) group as an instance which buttresses Jonathan’s clientelism style, Atiku complained that the rest of Nigerians who stay out of this network do not only remain excluded from the decision making process, but are also sequestered from enjoying the benefits of democracy.

Hear him, “A deductive observer will not fail to notice that the nation has been gravitating from the presidential system of governance stipulated in our constitution to presidentialism.

“This means the systematic concentration of political power in the hands of one individual or a cabal.

“As a result, effective accountability and representation through popular democratic participation is giving way to personal rule and single party dictatorships rooted on politics of clientelism.

“Clientelism refers to the awarding of personal favours among patrimonial cronies. These favours take the form of public sector jobs, appointments, distribution of resources through licences, contracts and tax waivers. In return, the cronies mobilize political support and loyalty for their patrons, the TAN spectacle.”

Apart from the press briefing attended by Dr. Nathaniel Yaduma, Dr. Akinwunmi Oluwole, Dr. Garba Abari and chaired by Prof. Femi Aborisade at the OOPL, a two-day summit to review the state of the nation and proffer a way forward organized by the Atiku Campaign Organisation is also to take place at the same venue.

SOURCE: DAILY POST

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