Some Facebook friends of President Goodluck Jonathan have expressed their disappointment, following his ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.
The President’s admirers had described it as an “achievement.”
Jonathan, who broke his month-old silence on the social network on Monday, had posted a link on his Facebook page and asked his friends to watch the event live online.
Jonathan, after ringing the bell, said on his Facebook page that the event was “the beginning of greater things” for the country and attributed the honour to the fact that global captains of industry are catching up with Nigeria’s efforts, which had culminated in progress being made “in every sector of our economy.”
However, Jonathan’s Facebook friends disagreed with him, saying his ringing of the NYSE bell did not call for any kind of celebration which he resorted to on social media.
Many of those who dropped comments on his Facebook page said they did not elect him to act as “timekeeper” but as a leader that would liberate the nation from the grips of poverty and underdevelopment.
They said that ringing the NYSE bell should not translate into an achievement for the President, considering the numerous socio-economic, political, and security challenges bedeviling the nation.
One Abiodun Olalekan says, “We didn’t elect you to be a bellboy. We voted for you to bring our universities at par with those in the US. How can you defend the fact that no considerable progress has been made in key sectors that have the capacity to drive other sectors? Our infrastructures are still in a shambles. Don’t get me wrong, I only want you to make sacrifices. Leave politics alone, give us development.”
One of the President’s friends, Tunji Ogundero, says he is challenging the President to ring the closing bell on the numerous problems the country is faced with, rather than bask in the euphoria of ringing the NYSE bell.
Ogundero says, “How does the ringing of the closing bell at the NYSE affect our economy and what lesson does Mr. President want us to learn from watching him ring the bell? Is he the timekeeper?
“Mr. President, we need you to be back here in Nigeria, to ring the closing bell to the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities; closing bell to the poor electricity power supply; closing bell to terrorism.”
A particular friend of the President, Oyekunle Olaitan, said world leaders such as the American President, Barack Obama; and the United Kingdom Prime Minister, David Cameron, would not ring the bell of any stock exchange and return to their respective countries describing such as an achievement.
“What difference did it make when the bell was rung? Has someone not been ringing the bell before you (Jonathan)? Would your ringing the bell boost Nigerian economy? Please pay attention to other important issues rather than ringing of bell. Let Obama come to Nigeria to ring the opening and closing bell of the Nigeria Stock Exchange and return to America to tell them he has rung the bell in Nigeria and see his people’s reaction.”
One Victor Ovedhe, argues, “If ringing bells are part of achievements, may I ask Mr. President how many times has he rang the Nigerian Stock Exchange bell? If he thinks ringing bells could solve Nigeria’s entire problems, he had better come over to Anglican or Catholic churches; they have bigger bells that will sound like rapture.”
Elizabeth Abdullahi-Usman says Jonathan’s celebration of the honour on Facebook clearly shows that he has yet to get his priorities right and urges him not to be misled by sycophants around him.
She writes, “What is our business with the bell, Mr. Bell Ringer? Will it call off ASUU strike, put food on our tables, provide power and employment for the unemployed youths or reduce the level of corruption and impunity in the country? Please, get your priorities right and don’t be carried away by the sycophants around you. Your performance is below average.”
In a bid to express his anger over the development, one Yomi Oni argues that if the President feels ringing the NYSE bell is a great achievement, he could apply to be made a permanent “bellman” of the exchange.
“Hopefully, those New York Stock Exchange managers can offer you (Jonathan) a job as the permanent bellman!” Oni says.
However, a handful of his friends rose up to the occasion to celebrate what they described as a special recognition for the Giant of Africa.
For those in his support, the President’s celebration of the feat on social media was worthwhile because he got a privilege that his predecessors never got on the international scene.
Victor Ugwuzor says, “Congratulations to Mr. President. History has been made today (Monday). Keep the flag flying. Many may not realise the honour which it has brought to Nigeria; however, I pray God will guide you, protect you and give you wisdom to keep Nigeria together, under your watch.”
“I am so proud to have an Excellency like GEJ. The first citizen of Nigeria has done it again, calmly and humbly breaking grounds in the midst of chaos and challenges,” Tony Adebisi writes.
Punch
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