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Tag: ex-President

  • Ex-President visits IBB, Abdulsalami in Minna 

    Ex-President visits IBB, Abdulsalami in Minna 

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday visited two of his predecessors privately in Minna, the Niger State capital.

    Dr. Jonathan’s visit to former military President Ibrahim Babangida and former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar sparked speculations on the purpose.

    There was no statement on the visit to Minna Hilltop, where the retired generals have their mansions.

    Jonathan spent about one hour at Gen. Babangida’s residence. He held a private discussion with him for close to 45 minutes, it was learnt.

    He proceeded from there to Gen. Abubakar’ s residence.

    Jonathan was accompanied by former Minister of State (Finance) Bashir Yuguda  and his one-time Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe.

    Jonathan made a terse tweet on the Minna trip on his handle @Gejonathan, writing:

    “As I visit my elder brothers and predecessors today, I am further committed to building bonds of unity for Nigeria!”

     

  • Ex-president in US

    Ex-president in US

    •Canvasses democracy sustenance 

    Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has arrived in the United States for a two-week official and personal visit.

    A statement from the former President’s office said he would meet key democratic institutions at the

    Presidential Prescint in Virginia and advocate the need to sustain democratic principles in Africa.

    The statement reads: “Ex-President Jonathan arrived the United States and will be hosted by the Presidential Prescint in Challotsville Virginia. The Presidential Prescint in the United States is in collaboration with Monticello, the home and institution of President Thomas Jefferson, the third US President and the author of the Declaration of Independence, The Highland; the home and institution of President James Monroe, the American First Nation Builder and fifth US President and the Montpiller, the home and institution of President James Madison, the fourth US President with the University of Virginia and the College of Williams & Mary.”

    “Former President Jonathan is being hosted on the merit of a Hero of Democracy in Africa, a Nation Builder and sustenance of True Democratic Principles and good governance. The leadership of ex-President Jonathan had convinced the United States that Nigeria is truly ready and leading the path of sustaining democracy in Africa.”

     

  • Chadian ex-president faces war crimes trial

    Chadian ex-president faces war crimes trial

    The war crimes trial of Chadian former President Hissene Habre, will resume on Monday in Senegal’s capital, Dakar.

    The trial which, comes 45 days after he and his lawyers boycotted the court, marks the first time an African ex-president faces justice in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Habre stands accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture, and will face the Extraordinary African Chambers, a special criminal court set up by the African Union within the Senegalese court system.

    So far, about 2,500 of the dictator’s victims had submitted their testimonies, including those of Rights groups who accused the 72-year-old of being responsible for the deaths of 40,000 people during his time in power.

    But Habre – who is said to have prevented all forms of opposition during his rule from 1982 to 1990 by using a system of arrest, torture and murder – refused to acknowledge the legitimacy of the court.

    The ex-president, who was previously dragged into the courtroom did not stand up or respond when called on by the judge when the trial began in July, instead he interrupted the proceedings shouting that it was a “farce’’.

    The court has meanwhile appointed a new team of lawyers to represent Habre for the remainder of the trial.

  • Corruption: Ex-ministers defend ex-president

    Corruption: Ex-ministers defend ex-president

    Some former ministers in the immediate past administration yesterday protested against President Muhammadu Buhari’s style, following plans to probe the  Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    They accused Buhari’s administration of trying to discredit Jonathan’s government by labelling it as “corrupt” and “irresponsible”.

    They said Jonathan’s administration did not encourage corruption, but fought it vigorously within the context of the rule of law and due process.

    They urged the President to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a fair and non-partisan manner.

    They said the Buhari administration should be fair to acknowledge Jonathan administration’s good deeds.

    They challenged the administration and the APC to publish the details of the hand over notes they received.

    The former cabinet members made their feelings known in a statement signed on their behalf by the ex-National Planning minister Dr Abubakar Suleiman.

    The statement reads: “We, the ministers who served under the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, have watched with increasing alarm and concern the concerted effort by the Buhari administration and members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to condemn, ridicule and undermine the efforts of that administration, in addition to impugning the integrity of its individual members.

    “While we concede that every administration has the right to chart its own path as it deems fit, we nevertheless consider the vilification of the Jonathan administration to be ill-intentioned, unduly partisan and in bad faith.

    “The effort that has been made to portray each and every member of the Jonathan administration as corrupt and irresponsible, in an orchestrated and vicious trial by media, has created a lynch mentality that discredits our honest contributions to the growth and development of our beloved nation.

    “We are proud to have served Nigeria and we boldly affirm that we did so diligently and to the best of our abilities.

    “The improvements that have been noticed today in the power sector, in national security, and in social services and other sectors did not occur overnight. They are products of solid foundations laid by the same Jonathan administration.”

    The former ministers faulted Buhari administration and the APC for rating the Jonathan administration as corrupt.

    The statement added: “Contrary to what the APC and its agents would rather have the public believe, the Jonathan administration did not encourage corruption, rather it fought corruption vigorously, within the context of the rule of law and due process.

    “For the benefit of those who may have forgotten so soon, it was the Jonathan administration that got rid of the fraud in fertiliser subsidies, which had plagued the country for decades. This helped to unleash a revolution in agricultural production and productivity.

    “It was also the Jonathan administration that supported the institutional development of strong systems and mechanisms to curb corruption in the public service and plug revenue leakages. These included the development of the Government Integrated Financial Management Platform, The Single Treasury Account (TSA), and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS), in addition to the biometric registration of civil servants and pensioners which saved the country over N100 billion paid to ghost workers and ghost pensioners.”

    They also listed the cleansing of the oil sector , the tarring of 25, 000 kilometres of roads and alleged robust  multinational response to Boko Haram insurgency as the highpoints of  Jonathan’s achievements in office.

    The statement said: “To ensure greater transparency and integrity in the oil and gas sector, the Jonathan administration ordered investigations and put mechanisms in place to check the theft of Nigeria’s crude oil.

    “It was also under the Jonathan administration that a Nigerian Content policy was introduced, which opened up that sector to Nigerians in a manner that was not previously the case.

    “ It was also the Jonathan administration that mobilised and secured the support of our neighbouring countries to ensure a robust multinational response to the menace of terrorism and insurgency, resulting in notable advancements in the fight against terror. President Jonathan personally initiated the collaboration that led to these advancements and ensured that Nigeria provided the needed financial support for the Multinational Joint Task Force.

    “It was the Jonathan administration that repaired and rehabilitated over 25, 000 kilometres of our nation’s roads. Nigeria also became a profitable and preferred investment-friendly destination. It was under President Jonathan, for example, that Nigeria’s electric power sector became more competitive and attractive to local and foreign investments.

    “The same administration promoted the rule of law, free speech, fundamental human rights, and a robust freedom of information regime. Women’s rights to participate in public life and the Federal Character principle as well as other Constitutional principles were also respected.

    “In every respect, our administration promoted inclusive governance and encouraged all stakeholders, including the private sector to play key roles in the transformation of Nigeria.”

    On electoral process, the former ministers said the “chief beneficiaries of Jonathan’s reforms are the most vociferous today.”

    The statement said: “It should also not be forgotten that the Jonathan administration strengthened electoral institutions and created a peaceful environment for democracy to thrive. On this score, it is sad and ironic that the chief beneficiaries of that same legacy are the most vociferous today in condemning President Jonathan and his team.

    “Perhaps the new administration and the APC would be sincere enough to publish the details of the handover notes they received.

    “In addition, the Buhari administration should be fair enough to acknowledge the good works of the Jonathan administration. No administration can be either completely bad or completely good. President Jonathan’s achievements in moving this country to greater heights deserve to be duly acknowledged. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to build on these achievements.

    “We also urge him to press on with the anti-corruption fight, but in a fair and non-partisan manner, in line with due process, and not as a political witch-hunt.”

    Although they asked the President to continue with the ongoing probe of the administration of Jonathan, they said  it must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all Nigerians equally and with the fear of God.

    The statement said: “The various lies and fabrications being peddled by some self-appointed spokespersons of the administration may entertain the unwary, but such sensationalism may achieve the unintended effect of de-marketing our country within the international community.

    “ All such persons playing to the gallery for whatever gains should be called to order. The name-calling of members of the Jonathan administration and the trial by news media should also stop.

    “We encourage President Buhari to continue with the probes, but this must be in strict accordance with his oath of office to treat all Nigerians equally and with the fear of God.

    “We have reserved our comment until now, in the fervent hope that once the euphoria that may have inspired the various attacks on the past administration wears off, reason will prevail.

    “But we are constrained to speak up in defence of the legacy of the Jonathan administration, and shall do so again, for as long as those who are determined to rubbish that legacy, are unrelenting in their usual deployment of blackmail, persecution, and similar tactics. “

  • Between a wine connoisseur and an Ex-President

    Wole Soyinka, a Nobel Laureate in Literature is the wine connoisseur. Olusegun Obasanjo (Obj), a military ruler during the dark ages of Nigeria’s contemporary history, is the ex-president. Obj prefers not to see Soyinka as a severally garlanded man with a host of literally prizes from all over the world. He snatches Soyinka from the company of the printed world and places him in the midst of forest hunters on an expedition to trap guinea fowls for dinner washed down with fine wine.

    Let us go to the carping old general to capture the picture. “For Wole,” Obj says “no one can be good nor can anything be spot-on politically except that which emanates from him or is ordained by him. His friend and loved ones will always be right and correct no matter what they do or fail to do. He is surely a better wine connoisseur and a more successful aparo (guinea fowl) hunter than a political critic…If I want somebody to give me the best wine, one of the people I will go to is Wole Soyinka and I know he has a taste for good wine…”

    Now why would a man, himself aiming to be an eminent author, accost an acclaimed writer and rather than seek to sip mastery of language from the master, all he begs for is inebriating wine? Why?

    But the so-called wine man is in no mood to brew the stuff for his host. He isn’t inclined either to part with his favourite guinea fowl delicacy. Soyinka has offered a concoction to prove he is a true son of the literary soil. Instead of a feast of wine and bird meat, there is a language war.

    Hear Soyinka: “I had fully attuned myself to the fact that our Owu retiree soldier… is an infliction that those of us who share the same era and nation space must learn to endure. However, it does appear that there is no end to this individual’s capacity for infantile mischief, and for needless, mind-boggling provocations, such as his recent ‘literary’ intrusion on my peace… I despise that species of humanity whose stock-in-trade is to concoct lies simply to score a point, win an argument, puff up his or her own ego, denigrate or attempt to destroy a fellow being… A special pit of universal opprobrium is surely reserved for (them).”

    Now this amounts to “spoonfuls of boiling oil, ladled out” by a lion over a prey he does not wish to devour. But it remains to be seen whether the victim would not have preferred the predator’s traditional assault of instant sentence of death to this slow living death. Are Nigerians learning anything new from this battle of two of their gods? We are getting as much as we got from a previous war between another military ruler Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) and this same Obj in August 2011. On the eve of his 70th birthday, the general from Minna, Niger State said Obj had wasted the petrodollars that came his way when he was elected President for eight years. IBB claimed the “history of Chief Obasanjo is an open sore that is irredeemably contrived in several incongruities and contradictions.” He said Obj is a plunderer.

    But Obasanjo is above board. He does not brook rebuke and so he fired back and described IBB as a ‘fool’ at 70. He said: “Babangida should be pitied and shown sympathy rather than anger or condemnation because of the old saying that a fool at 40 is a fool forever and I would say a regret at 70 is a regret too late…If Babangida had decided on becoming a septuagenarian, that he would be a fool, I think one should probably do what the Bible says in Proverbs chapter 26 verse 4. It says don’t answer a fool because you may also become like a fool. When you go to the same Proverbs chapter 26 verse 5, it says answer a fool so that he will not think he is a wise man.”  This is a caustic banter unbecoming of ‘gods’, those we have dignified with mentorship and leadership positions, those we place in the hallowed grounds of near-worship. They can’t help behaving like those personalities on Mount Olympus in Greek mythology. These characters hoisted on exalted hills in the skies were supposed to be pontifical, infallible, and perfect. But they exhibited the foibles of lesser creatures, mortals over whom they lorded. These gods were vindictive, deceptive, lustful, overly ambitious, rebellious, jealous, rapacious, alcoholic, tyrannical and unforgiving. They were classed as powerful and all-conquering. But it was power bereft of control and morality. A Zeus who was the chief would slug it out with mortals for the love of a woman. Atlas would be condemned to the punishment of carrying the world on his shoulders for being on the side of other gods. Hercules was assigned back-breaking labours as the penalty for challenging Zeus.

    When therefore President Muhammadu Buhari insists he will pick untainted Nigerian men and women to form his long-awaited cabinet, I am tempted to ask if he will do so from among those who have called each other ‘wine connoisseur’ , ‘guinea fowl hunter’, ‘misfit’, ‘career liar’, ‘open sore’, and ‘a fool’ among other aliases. Or is he going to look for ‘angels’ mentored and recommended by ‘a fool’ who has a person with an ‘open sore’ as his friend who in turn has behind him a career of lies sustained by a culture of hunting guinea fowl capped with long nights in warm company with wine.

    Our age has one way or the other fallen at the feet of these illustrious men, ‘a wine connoisseur’, ‘a fool’, ‘a career liar’, ‘a misfit’, etc. They may have unwittingly renounced their majestic gait and abdicated their throne as a result of the indiscretion of these unguarded remarks in the ardour of fitful seizures.

    Still, between the so-indexed ‘misfit’ of a ‘wine connoisseur’ and an ex-president now downgraded as a ‘career liar’, there lie tomes of the chronicles of their stately deeds to guide Buhari choose men and women of steely stuff who would not be struck and dwarfed by paroxysmic outbursts.

    • Ojewale is a writer and journalist.          

  • Furore over ex-President Jonathan’s BoA appointments

    Some of the last-minute  appointments made by  former President Goodluck Jonathan  through former Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina yesterday generated furore at the headquarters of the Bank of Industry (BoA),  Kaduna among directors of the bank.

    According to reports, trouble started when the three directors appointed by Adesina suddenly reported for duty at the Kaduna office of the bank yesterday. Their appearance at a time the management of the bank was having a crucial meeting led to the abrupt end of the meeting.

    A press statement endorsed by an Executive Director, Wholesales Finance, BoA, Alhaji Ahmadu Waziri, explained that the three directors were people of questionable character and they were unfit for the job.

    The statement identified Dr Danbala Danju, Mr Babatunde Igun and Mr. Mohammed Adamu Sambo as the  emergency appointees of Jonathan.

    “The next development in the nominations saga was yesterday (Monday, June 1, 2015) morning, when we were holding an informal Monday Morning Review meeting with the Acting MD/CEO and the Company Secretary. Two gentlemen suddenly intruded the office where we were meeting, and proceeded to present two copies of letters of appointment as EDs, signed by the Head of Human Resource Management at the Ministry, to the Acting MD/CEO,” the statement read.

    Waziri observed that the letter having been signed by a Director instead of the Minister or the Permanent Secretary was unusual. In addition, even though the Permanent Secretary only learnt about the approval on May 28, 2015, after which he gave instructions to the Head Human Resource as to what to do, the letters of appointment were dated May 27, 2015.

    “These gentlemen sent as a new management team are nothing but remnants of the last dispensation being catapulted to this side of change to do nothing but sabotage the expected efforts of the new government in the agriculture sector,” the statement added.

    Waziri pointed out that the sudden appointment was a way to truncate the entire progressive model which the bank has been operating and getting a desire result in the recent past before the ouster of the last administration.

    He therefore called on President  Muhammadu Buhari  to urgently intervene  in order not to jeopardise these ongoing projects and initiatives, and not willing to compromise the future of this institution that we have worked hard to restructure, knowing fully well also that there is much more to be done,

     

  • Society loses ex-President

    Society loses ex-President

    A former President of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP), Prof Hyacinth Okeke is dead.

    In a statement, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the society, Olawale Dada, said the late don would be missed for his novel contribution to the society as he  was instrumental to the phenomenal development of the profession in the country.

    “This is because he loved to teach and imbibe knowledge and as such selflessly took up lecturing duties in various schools both in and out of the country at various times. He taught Physiotherapy students, Nursing students and medical students at the University of Nigeria Enugu campus.

    “He also lectured at Khaled University Teaching Hospital, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Department of Physical therapy, Kuwait University, Middle East. He taught as a professor at Madonna University and also took up a contract job at the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus.

  • Reply ex-President, activists tell Jonathan

    Reply ex-President, activists tell Jonathan

    A civil society group, under the aegis of the United Action for Democracy (UAD), has challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to respond to issues raised in the letter sent to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Obasanjo, in the letter, which was widely circulated in the media yesterday, chronicled the alleged atrocities of the administration.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Abuja, the UAD expressed apprehension over corruption allegations, state-induced terrorism and promotion of ethnic and religious divisions in the country.

    The group’s National Convener, Comrade Baba Aye warned that unless the issues are addressed by President Jonathan as timely as possible, the Nigerian people would continue to live in fear of the unknown.

    Aye said: “The UAD regards these allegations with utmost seriousness and demands an urgent verifiable response from the Presidency”.

    The group urged Nigerians to rise and defend their democratic and not be cowed by “cowardly militaristic machinations of the Nigerian state, supposedly in a civilian garb.”

    Lamenting the heightened insecurity in the land, particularly in the Northeast, the UAD deplored the apparent inability of government to address the situation.

    “It is particularly worrisome that there is surreptitious sharpening of the teeth of state terrorism going on, which could take us back to the dark ages of the Abacha dictatorship.

    The civil society group warned the leadership against the pursuit of selfish political interests in manners that could plunge the nation into avoidable crisis.

    “There is hardly any clearer testimony to this than the December 2 letter of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “What needs to be added is that the pursuit of selfish personal and political interests, which is brewing a crisis of gargantuan proportions, is not limited to President Jonathan and his own clique, but is a general nature of the band of brigands that are the country’s leaders, and the neoliberal capitalist system which they run.

    “Information to this extent has been provided by a former President, Chief Obasanjo, in his recent letter where he stated that the President has placed over 1000 Nigerians on political watch list and is training snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely”.