Jonathan condems govs breeding criminals to rig elections

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, on Wednesday, strongly condemned state governors who recruit criminals to disrupt elections and harm innocent citizens.

He encouraged them to follow the example of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is fostering a culture of excellence by providing automatic employment opportunities to first-class graduates in the state.

Jonathan made the comments while inaugurating the renovated Edo State Civil Service Secretariat Complex in Benin City, Edo State.

He said, “Let me also join the Head of Service, the young first class graduate you employed, we thank you. When the Head of Service mentioned that in his speech, I was quite pleased. In fact, if you go to some states, governors are busy encouraging criminals because of politics, people that will rig elections for them, carry ballot boxes, carry knives and cutlasses to pursue people but you are encouraging the brains.

“The brains don’t come from one political party. The brains come from all political parties. The brains come from those who are supporting all candidates. So, you are not supporting these brains because you want to win election but because you want to build a state and for you to build a state, you have to build the people.”

He also commended Obaseki for improving workers’ welfare and providing a conducive working environment for the civil servants in the state

He added, “Let me also join the civil servants to thank you for improving their welfare. Of course, before this time, civil servants had been going home with salaries that cannot take them home, now, you are paying them salaries that can take them home.

“When I read on the newspapers that he is going to start paying N70,000 minimum wage. I was worried and expressed hope that he could pay. A political leader must be somebody who has a vision and not someone who just wants to get to office and doesn’t know what to do when he gets there.

“If you have a vision, no matter the challenges, you must find a way to perform,” Jonathan added.

Governor Obaseki revealed that the Civil Service Secretariat Complex held a special significance for him, as it was the first location he visited when he first took office as the governor of Edo State.

He described the complex as being in a dilapidated state when he first assumed office, but he vowed to restore and upgrade it to create a more conducive workspace for employees.

Mr. Anthony Okungbowa, the State Head of Service, expressed his gratitude to Governor Obaseki for pioneering a digital transformation in the state civil service, revolutionizing its operations and efficiency.