PRESIDENCY: APC IS ILL-MANNERED, LACK RESPECT FOR OFFICE OF PRESIDENT

Apparently referring to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the presidency yesterday took a swipe at the critics of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration, saying they were individuals, who were ill-mannered and philosophically bankrupt.
This is coming on the heels of the accusation by the opposition party that Jonathan is running an incompetent government and administration that has no moral authority to point fingers on anyone..
Special Adviser to the president on Ethics and Values, Dr. Sarah Jibril, who defended the president, said critics of the president should be more civil in addressing issues about the president.
Speaking 'at a roundtable conference on Cultural Diplomacy in Nigeria and Africa for Peace and Security, ' Jibril cautioned critics of the Jonathan's administration to exhibit decorum and respect the Office of the President.
"It is a mixture of ignorance and personal bad manners. In addition, it also boils down to philosophical bankruptcy as well as personal ego for people to criticise rather than make contributions.
"It is the responsibility of the government to re-educate them. I appreciate that Mr. President is not responding to every insult that is coming up. Our business in government is to continue to be patient, tolerate and love to educate the people and explain what we are trying to do.
"Insulting the president is a bad definition of politics. There is a way you can raise observations. But I think they would have much more human civilisation input that you are talking to a person you voted for and he has avenue of advice but you take it personally to insult the President of the Federal Republic of your country.
"It means that the person is showing the lack of home training. He is showing the lack of good manners and ethical maturity. They are better advised to now show that indeed they can observe some inputs that must be used. At the same time, they must also show that they have decorum, self-respect and national respect," she said.
Noting that government was doing its best to sensitise the people against such bad conduct, the presidential aide said: "That is the effort we are trying to do in creating community as well as community transformation centre and get a forum where we can sit and discuss these issues.
"Government has the responsibility of educating the people and that is why we are urging the national curriculum committee to come up with the national curriculum on civics and morals at all levels of school and the family.
"After secondary schools, we now talk of ethics curriculum, including leadership mentorship. So, we are integrating all these which is quite multi-dimensional."
According to her, the roundtable was imperative because of the dwindling cultural values in the country.
She said: "This conference we are having today is to raise the awareness of the issue you have just stated. We cannot reduce our progress in civilisation by being copycats negatively. The fact that we are having negative influences from the other parts of the world has caught our attention.
"It is for this reason that we came out from Mr. President's office to remind people and ensure that we prevent the trend. Therefore, the diplomacy we are simply saying is that it is part of you accepting oneself, understanding oneself, knowing your differences and that of other people as well as creating the emotional cement that would now lead to compassion.
"These are human beings that have lives and they have their sources of respect which must be preserved.
"You have your own source of respect and therefore when two different people are meeting you must take your stand by having the courage to be who you are.
"And one is more respected when you stand to do honour to what you represent. Value unite people and when we are talking of ethics, this is good character in normal language. In Islam, it is about Sharia; in Christianity, it is about righteousness.
"When we are talking of this, it means you are actually promoting the unity, the harmony, the peace, the security of physical existence and even religious tolerance. All these come to play even in our constitution, sub-section 23.
"Nigerian is being seen by the institute of cultural diplomacy as apt to be its hub and Africa and the president's office is represented at the international community" Jibril added.
Source: Thisday