Famous African American civil rights leader, Rev. Jesse Jackson, has described the transparency of President Goodluck Jonathan as unequalled in contemporary democracy.

He returned the positive verdict today in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, while speaking at the presentation of a mid-term performance report by the Jonathan administration as part of activities marking the President’s two years in office and 14 years of democracy in Nigeria.

Rev. Jackson, a one-time US presidential aspirant, urged Nigerians to rally round Jonathan in order to entrench democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

He noted that the entire black race has great expectations from Nigeria as the most populous black nation on earth and these expectations have to be justified through the implementation of programmes which will improve the people’s quality of life and inspire them to be productive.

Rev. Jackson said with the mid-term report of the transformation agenda presented by the Jonathan administration, it is obvious that the ship of the Nigerian Nation is sailing in the right course and needs to be supported by every Nigerian.

He urged Nigerians to remain positive about their country and uphold its ideals at all times.

Speaking in the same vein at the event held at the International Conference Centre, former Head of the Interim Government in Liberia, Professor Amos Sawyer, commended Nigeria’s leading role in peace-keeping operations in Africa. He urged political leaders to bury their differences especially at moments of national challenges.

Earlier in his speech at the event, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, said the Jonathan administration has enlarged the space for public discourse and dissent which are the hallmarks of democratic governance.

Anyim explained that Dr. Jonathan has given practical expression to the principles of checks and balances in government, adding: “Mr. President’s uncommon restraint at the face of many challenges is a manifestation of a great desire to deepen democratic culture in all aspects of our national life.”

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who gave a general overview of accomplishments in Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda said that Nigeria’s economy is attracting great attention of investors worldwide. This, according to her, is an indication that the positive economic indices are not phantom as claimed by cynics.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said the achievements recorded in the transportation, agriculture, manufacturing, power, health and educational sectors in the last two years of the Jonathan administration are a result of careful planning, fiscal discipline and unwavering commitment of Mr. President to the total transformation of Nigeria.

She said the 234-page publication titled The Mid-term Report of the Transformation Agenda which the President presented at the public event would further inspire the confidence of Nigerians in the ability of the Jonathan administration to deliver on its campaign promises before the expiration of its tenure.

•Photo shows Rev. Jesse Jackson

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