AN OPEN LETTER TO CHIEF EDWIN CLARK:

Sir,
I want to sincerely congratulate you for your decision to retire from partisan politics, your retirement  wouldn't have come at a better time than now when Nigerians are clamoring for CHANGE, your retirement is an indication that there is hope for the younger generation in the PDP family.
Your retirement unlike that of Dr. Bamanga Tukur have raised some concern in the media, a section of the media reported you saying "..... Goodluck Jonathan lacked the political will to fight corruption...." If this is true, then you are not being fair to Goodluck Jonathan.
Goodluck Jonathan gave free latitude to the anti graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to assiduously prosecute the war against corruption without interference from any quarters. He however gave caveat; such prosecution of the war against corruption must respect the rule of law and recognize the fundamental human rights of individuals.
If this is what you termed "Weak" or "Lack of political will to fight corruption", then you are wrong.
With due respect Sir, Goodluck Jonathan is a reformer par excellence in all and every sense of the word. Since 1960, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan remains the only Nigerian president that has touched on the issue of subsidy ,which his predecessors saw as a no go area because of their vested interest in the oil sector. It takes the spirit of courage and selflessness to be able to carry out general reforms as was done by Jonathan.
Jonathan carried out electoral reforms, power sector reforms, restructured the civil service for efficiency,effectiveness and relevance. Most of those affected by the reforms ganged up against Jonathan's re-election by funding opposition.
Below are 7 things Jonathan did to reduce corruption…
1. 40 Years Of Corruption In The Agricultural Sector Ended Within 90 Days
Before President Jonathan (and his team) came on board, this was how fertilizers and seeds were distributed to government (and farmers)…
- Fertilizer and seed suppliers will collect money from the government
- Some bagged and supplied sands; others supplied under sized bags. Seed suppliers bought grains from the market and supply as seedlings.
As a result, their supplies were useless. They collected government money and supplied fake products.
To make matters worse, distribution was another problem.
If the government gives distributors fertilizers and seeds to share to farmers for free, they’ll sell it.
So how did President Jonathan solve the problem?
Common phone. Yes! COMMON PHONE.
The federal government distributed e-wallet installed phones to farmers.
And how did these phones do the magic? Simple! Instead of getting supplies from the suppliers, the federal government pays the money directly into the farmers’ phone. The farmers buy the fertilizers themselves – after all, they know the original and fake fertilizers better – It’s their line of business.
The Result?
N50 billion Naira was blocked from fertilizer money thieves.
Also, local farmers started producing in full capacity. As a result, Nigeria saved more than N700 billion on food import under Jonathan.
Sources:
Punch - Phones Stop Corruption In Fertilizer Sector
The Nigerian Voice - President Jonathan Ended 40 Years Of Corruption In Agric Sector
The Sun - Nigeria Loses N776bn To Corruption In Fertilizer Sector
2. Jonathan Organized The Freest, Fairest And Most Peaceful And Credible Elections EVER
“Electoral corruption is the mother of all corruptions”
–  Jonathan
When President Jonathan was sworn in as the acting president in 2010, he vowed to fight electoral corruption to a stand-still.
How did he go about it?
- He enacted electoral laws and guidelines that were beyond manipulation
- He created an electoral system that is manned by qualified, competent and efficient personnel
- He conducted free, fair and credible elections
The Result?
Governorship elections were acclaimed by both local and international observers and free, fair and credible in…
- Edo state
- Ondo state
- Anambra state
- Ekiti state
- Osun state
In these 5 elections, only 1 was won by the president’s party the PDP. The major opposition then APC won in 2 states and 2 other parties APGA and LP won the other 2.
As a result, the confidence of most Nigerians in the electoral process increased dramatically.
No wonder more Nigerians are now interested in getting the permanent voters card.
Sources:
Today's Zaman - New Nigerian Leader Jonathan Sworn In, Pledges Electoral Reform
Point Blank News - President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration’s War On Corruption
Vanguard - Gains of electoral reforms
3. 60,000 “GHOST” Workers Exposed

Between 2007 – 2010, the federal government built a new system for paying salaries, the IPPIS system.

In 2012, President Jonathan (and his team) took it a step further. They used it to expose “ghost” workers.
By October 2014, they discovered over 60,000.
For years, these fake workers has been collectively carting away N160 billion every year.
Impressively, the case was transferred to ICPC for further investigation and prosecution.
Sources:
Leadership - FG Uncovers 60,000 Ghost Workers
4. N1.4 Trillion Worth Of Public Sector Theft Blocked Through Import-Waiver Reforms
What’s import waiver? Simple!
It’s the tax (A.k.a import duty) that the government removes on economic boosting goods – goods that boost the economy. Eg. Raw materials, machinery and spare parts.
Before Jonathan (and his team) came in, corrupt public officers heavily abused this system. They gave and received waivers on unapproved goods. Between 2011 – 2013, over N1.4 Trillion was lost.
As a result, the importers whom the waiver was meant for hardly got it.
With the Jonathan reform in the sector, loopholes was blocked.
Sources:
New Telegraph - Okonjo-Iweala: We Have Reformed Import Waiver System
Punch - Import Waivers Granted By Past Govts Lopsided –Okonjo-Iweala
Nigeria Intel - Reforming the import waiver regime
5. Stealing Money Through Government Contract Is Now Harder Than Ever
Through the public procurement act, Jonathan's government (between 2010 – 2013) blocked N558 billion from getting to contract thieves.
They even went as far as fishing out 180 contract stealing companies. The case has was forwarded to the anti-corruption agencies.
Sources:
Premium Times - Nigerian Govt. Urges States To Replicate Procurement Laws
6. Ongoing Sanitization Of The Oil And Gas Sector Already Yielding Results
When President Jonathan came on board, he primarily focused on fighting corruption in 3 key areas…
- Electoral corruption
- Fertilizer distribution corruption
- Corruption in the oil and gas
So far, war on “electoral corruption” and “fertilizer distribution corruption” recorded tremendous success.
But the oil and gas has been the hardest. Nevertheless, this is what he has achieved so far…
He exposed the biggest scam ever in Nigeria’s history.
In 2011, he told us (Nigerians) that there was huge corruption going on in the fuel subsidy sub-sector. So, he took the subsidy money and put it in places where it will yield more dividend.
Well, nobody understood him. So in January 2012, we all went on strike.
To prove his point, a probe panel was set up. What did they discover? USD6.8 Billion (N108.8 Billion) has been stolen in just 3 years.
Let’s put things in perspective. What really is subsidy?
If a cup (Aka. De Rica) of garri is N300 and I pay N100 for you, then I’ve subsidized the garri – that’s garri subsidy.
What is subsidy scam?
If the garri seller sells 1 cup of garri to you and then lie to me that he sold 10 cups, that’s subsidy scam.
The Result?
The subsidy money was used to create the sure-p programme. Below are the achievements so far…
- Used to support road construction.
As a result, 17,000km out of the 23,000 km of bad federal road completed. It’s just remaining 7,000 km and the entire federal road in Nigeria will become good.
- Support for maternal health
600 health centers (mostly in rural communities) already built – and equipped. 700 still under construction.
Consequentially, maternal death has been reduced by 60%. Half a million women now give birth under the care of trained midwives.
- Increased water access - Over 620 boreholes built nationwide.
- Supported the fight against unemployment
Sure-p  helped in the struggle to get jobs for the 22 million unemployed Nigerian youths…
It’s been working with (and paying) 2,000 youths across the country.
3,000 graduates has gotten jobs under the “graduate internship scheme (GIS)”
5075 youths undergoing vocational training.
Furthermore…
He created and sponsored the most controversial bill in Nigeria’s history, the “Petroleum Industrial Bill (BIB)”
In 2008, the federal government created and sent the petroleum industrial bill (PIB) to the national assembly.
It is a bill that will block all the corruption loopholes – and solve every other problem – in the petroleum industry.
What happened to it? It was vehemently rejected. On 18th July 2012, President Jonathan resent the bill.
But up till now, legislation on the bill has not gone half way.
Hmm… You never knew corruption could fight back? Now you do.
As if that is not enough…
He commissioned – and never stood on the way of any – probe in almost every sector of the industry…
- Aig- Imoukhuede Presidential committee on verification and reconciliation of subsidy claims and payments
- Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force Committee
- The Dotun Suleiman committee
- The Kalu Idika Kalu committee
- The 20 Billion Naira Scam probe
- Etcetera…
Sources:
Nigerian Live TV - INCREDIBLE! Mr President and I are fighting corruption in the oil sector – Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke
Vanguard - Jonathan Insists On Fuel Subsidy Removal
One.org - FAQ: The Fuel Subsidy Protests In Nigeria
Nigeria Politico - Fuel Subsidy $6.8 Billion Scam: Nigeria’s Biggest Corruption Scandal Ever
The News - Appraising The Gains Of SURE-P
African Arguments - Nigeria: Any Chance Of Progress On The Petroleum Industry Bill?
Mondaq - Nigeria: An Overview Of The Petroleum Industry Bill, 2012
Point Blank News - President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration’s War On Corruption
7. EFCC under Jonathan Prosecuted 427 Cases In 3 Years
The Jonathan led federal government strengthened the EFCC and allowed them do their job. As a result, 427 cases were prosecuted between 2012 – 2014.
The Result?
Fraud in Nigeria reduced from N495 billion to N300 billion. Hence, EFCC saved the country N195 billion.
Sadly, most of the successfully concluded cases are…
- Advanced fee frauds
- Internet frauds
- Commercial cases
Cases involving top government officials dragged on for years.
The EFCC has blamed this on the Judiciary. These officers (and politicians) frustrate the process. They manipulate the judiciary with the wealth and influence they’ve acquired.
Unfortunately, the federal government (A.k.a the executive) has very limited power over the judiciary (the 3rd arm of government).
Despite that, Jonathan continued to use “advocacy” to push for the sanitization of the judiciary.
If Jonathan had succeeded, every Nigerian – including the very high and mighty – would have become truly subject to the law, irrespective of who is president.
Sources:
Vanguard - Why EFCC Can’t Convict Big Thieves – Lamorde
Daily Trust - EFCC Records 110 Convictions This Year
In Conclusion, Jonathan’s approach to fighting corruption looks radically different.
He focused on strengthening institutions and blocking loopholes in the system.Where possible, he used technology.
Funny enough, this is how Denmark, New Zealand and Finland (the 3 most transparent countries in the world) rooted out corruption from their country.
More Sources:
Punch - I Won’t Fight Graft By Putting People In Crates –Jonathan
Nigerian Tribune - Nigeria Winning War Against Corruption
This Day Live - Goodluck Jonathan’s and the Years not Wasted.
Words they say are cheap and nothing is as sweet as beating up the weeping boy as all, including weaklings suddenly gain strength and bury their own weaknesses in the collective attack. Unfortunately, it bellies current failures and provide a ready platform for discuss even when we know the lie in it.
No situation affords the above assertion better expression than what has become the order of the day in casting former President Goodluck Jonathan in bad light; selling him as a total failure even in the face of realities. We know that the heart does not lie but the tongue is deceitful; so one wonders why even respected men choose to live the lie because that is the vogue.
Examples to prove the point are legion and glaring for which one would have been tempted to gloss over them except for the fact that Nigerians have started acting too early as if we are suffering from collective amnesia on the issue of Jonathan’s performance given the circumstances.
Most painful is the fact that we have soon forgotten the accolades that attended the reformation of our international gateways and the advertorials that graced newspapers showering praises on how things had changed. The question that rushes to ones lips is “Are we being fair to Jonathan by painting him with the tar of general lack of performance? Can we stand the pricking of our conscience over the issue of realities of crediting one man with the success of another just to scurry favour?
Sir, as you pledge your loyalty and support for the present government of Muhammadu Buhari like you said, do that with the fear of God to avoid destroying the reputation you have suffered to build over the years because many youths are looking up to you.
Thanks and God bless the federal republic of Nigeria.
Yours Sincerely,
Lazarus Obinna .