The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obasanjo’s Letter

  • State of the nation: Obasanjo is not neutral, says Presidency

    Despite his letter on the state of the nation, the Presidency on Friday said ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is not neutral.

    It said since Obasanjo’s has a political position, his opinion cannot be taken as the gospel truth any longer.

    It said political Fulani herdsmen were on rampage to de-market the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    He said Nigeria will not break because “it is very solid, it will remain solid.”

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, who faulted Obasanjo in an interview with THE CREST online newspaper, said Buhari’s administration is not failing.

    It was the first comprehensive reaction to the ex-President who raised the alarm that the nation was getting to the brink.

    Adesina said: “Whatever former President Obasanjo says now cannot be taken as neutral. It cannot be taken as something from a disinterested party because he has a political position where he anchors everything he says. His opinion then cannot be taken as the gospel truth any longer.

    “It can only be the opinion of one man and he has the right to that opinion.”

    Adesina insisted that the security situation in the country is better than the case in 2015.

    He said Buhari has made a “big difference” in addressing security challenges nationwide.

    He said: “No doubt, there are security challenges in the country, but are things better than 2015? Yes, things are better than 2015.

    “In 2015, do you know how many bombs went off daily in this country? Yes, daily! And with scores dead in different parts of the country!

    “It happened in the North-East; happened in the North-West; happened in the North-Central. Abuja, the federal capital, was not immune from it. But, that has largely been reduced.

    “You hardly hear of those bombs going off again because the government has made a big difference. Now, we have challenges in other areas-kidnapping, armed banditry, armed robbery, and all that. Yes, there are challenges but government exists to solve challenges. And this government is doing its best to solve the challenges.”

    “People also exaggerate things for political reasons. We are not saying those challenges are not there. Of course, they are there.”

    The presidential spokesman said Nigeria will not disintegrate contrary to predictions.

    He said: “But then to now say the entire country has been taken over, to say that the government is failing, is political. Nigeria is still there, it is very solid. It will remain solid. It will remain one, and the challenges will be overcome.

    Read Also: How Mandela made Obasanjo drop his 3rd term bid — Orji Kalu

    “Government is not the only institution responsible for security. It is a collaborative thing between the government and the governed. Government at the federal level is not the only one responsible for security.

    “But what do we find? You find some people, they will go and cause trouble at the local government (level), and they will be calling President Buhari, who is at the centre, to come and resolve it.

    “You have government at the federal level; you have government at the state level. And you have government at the local level. All of them-federal, states, and local governments, must collaborate to end this security challenge. The people as well as the traditional institutions have their roles to play. It is a collaborative thing.”

    Concerning the menace of herders/ farmers’ clashes nationwide, Adesina said the challenges are being aggravated by those he termed as “political Fulani herdsmen” to de-market the administration of President Buhari.

    He said: “The herdsmen/farmers’ clashes are causing security challenges. There are also political Fulani herdsmen; those ones have been created by hidden hostile hands who want to de-market the government.

    “The Fulani issue is there but it is no way near what has been trumpeted, and what has been claimed. To some people in the media, there is no other criminality in the country except Fulani herdsmen.

    “Even when other criminals strike, it is Fulani herdsmen. It is stereotyping. It is finger-pointing which is not based on facts. I am not saying that there are no challenges about Fulani herdsmen due to climate change, dwindling resources and things like that. Yes, we have those challenges. But it is not every criminality perpetrated in the country that is done by the Fulanis.

    “We have always lived with Fulani herdsmen in this country. They drive their cattle from different parts. When the rains are here, you see them. They move southwest and they get forage for their cattle and all that. And when the rains go and the water recedes, you find them following the water as it recedes. In the process, they drive their herds into farmlands and it becomes an issue. There was a way that problem was settled in this country before.”

    “The problem was there in the first republic, even in the second republic. But it was not as bad as we have it now because climate change has affected vegetation and the water table. Lake Chad, for instance, is ten percent of its former size. That has seriously affected grazing and availability of resources because the herdsmen follow the water. They follow where there is green grass to feed their animals.”

    On the delay in constituting his cabinet or announcing some appointments, Adesina said Buhari has a clear direction of where he is headed in his second term.

    He also said contrary to insinuations, appointments made by the President were not lopsided.

    He added: “No, the direction is clear. If some appointments have not been made, it does not indicate that you don’t know the direction. The direction in which this government is going is very clear. Direction is determined by policy. It is determined by pronouncements.

    “It is determined by things you had done in the first term, which you are consolidating in the second term. It is not the appointment that has not been made that will determine the direction.

    “One thing is to appoint the brightest and the best; another is to take care of the agitations against some members of the President’s first term team. Throughout that term, people were always complaining about lop-sidedness in appointments, about ethnicity, nepotism and stuffs like that.

    “If you look at the entire gamut of appointments, it is not true that there was lopsidedness. It is not true. If you look at the totality of the appointments, you will see that there was a balance in the country.

    “People just decided to believe there was lopsidedness because the security apparatus was like tilted more towards a particular section of the country; and security is not something you play politics with. Security is just where you use the brightest and the best.

    “The president has explained many times that he made the security appointments based on the career records of the people. They were the best in the different services at that time; and he appointed them.”

    Asked why it is difficult for government to apprehend the sponsors of this particular aspect of violence against the populace, Adesina said: “They will not always prevail.”

    “I am sure eventually government will get to unveil who the hidden hostile hands are. They are both internal and external.  Nigeria has possibly the most porous borders in the world. The borders in the north alone are about 1,500 kilometres.

    “The entire border area in the country is about 4,500 kilometres. So, people can come in at will; from anywhere-Libya, Sudan, Burkina Faso, generally; and all these places are awash with small arms which they bring into the country. So, it is a problem.

    ”It remains a problem because we have not also tried to study and copy what bigger and better organized countries have done with their borders. There are countries that are three times bigger than Nigeria in terms of land mass, yet, they are well policed. Their borders are tightly controlled.”

  • Obasanjo not Buhari’s adviser, says Oshiomhole

    Obasanjo not Buhari’s adviser, says Oshiomhole

    The former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, on Friday added his voice to those criticising the letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Mohammadu Buhari.

    Obasanjo, apart from faulting Buhari’s administration, had advised him not to seek re-election in 2019.

    But speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari, Oshiomhole said that Obasanjo is not one of Buhari’s advisers.

    He recalled that when Obasanjo was the President of the country had declared that he was at liberty to heed or not to heed the advice of his advisers.

    Since Obasanjo is not one of Buhari’s advisers, he said that Obasanjo should allow the President to make his own decisions.

    According to him, he was in the Villa to reassure Buhari of his absolute and total support for his government and even for 2019 elections.

    He said “Well, you know is a new year and I felt since I haven’t been here since 2017, so I came to wish the President a happy new year and appreciate him for his leadership of the country because as an APC activist and loyalist, I’m a party man, to reassure him of my absolute and total support for his government and even for 2019.

    “I think that in moments like this nobody should seat on the fence. Our country have challenges and there are huge temptations here and there and is important he knows that he has men and women who even at this hour have huge confidence in his leadership ability.

    “Everything taken to account I believe that every Nigerian who wants us to sustain some of the renewed vigor to deal with one of the most challenging problem that Nigeria has faced, namely corruption and things like that, you cannot but appreciate the president and all that has been done under his leadership this past two years and some months.” he said

    Asked if he was saying Buhari should not heed Obasanjo’s advise and step aside, Oshiomhole said, “I’m not sure when I see the list of the advisers that president Obasanjo is one of the advisers. But I also recall with respect that the day President Obasanjo was swearing in some of his advisers, he did say that anybody who is his adviser can advise him, he will make his own decisions. And I think that principle still stands.”

    When asked to speak on the development in the country in view of the poverty level, he said “Let’s trace the route of poverty, is not something that developed over the past few weeks or few years. If you review all your newspapers editorials from my days as president of the NLC, the challenge has been how do we ensure that the Nigerian economy worked for the betterment of the majority of the people particularly the forgotten rural majority.

    “So this has been there but everybody who understands development issues and if you review Africa development literature, you will agree that one of the key issue that explains the paradox between a potentially very rich continent in the case of Nigeria a very rich nation, the paradox of a wealthy country but people getting poorer and poorer has to do with the issue of corruption. And if you do not deal with that you cannot deal with other things. I think this president rightly identifies that as major area of focus.

    “I think that people have to realize that the amount of damage done by the previous governments, you know when people say no blame game maybe yes, maybe no. But where I am come from, people say that is only a fool who will be working in the road, get into a pothole and fall and then get up and continue the journey, go to the hospital and treat himself.

    “But a wise man must interrogate how and why did I fall and maybe in the cause of doing that find that there is a pothole. The first and simple thing to do is to fill that pothole before you continue on your journey and then go ahead and treat yourself.

    “Nigeria was below ground level and from what you guys report that I read, we have always had challenges but never in terms of scale, magnitude what president Buhari inherited is difficult to describe.

    “So, I have said so before that when you meet such a situation, your first task is to halt the drift, when you half the drift then you stabilize before you begin to go, there is no miracle about it.

    “I don’t think that anybody who understands the challenge of nation building, of national economic management etc will expect that in two years you can fix in a sustainable manner all of the things that have been destroyed over 16 years before this party came into office.

    “So, yes there are challenges, there are a couple of things we need to begin to do and re-enforced but there is no question that a lot has begun and a lot is being done. There is no miracle in the life of nations so, the fact that the president even given the lean resources and huge debts he inherited and the cost of serving those debts, the president insists that the poorest amongst us who are victims of these several years of misrule, that they must have something to give them a sense of belonging under the social programme which seeks to transfer cash of N5,000 and several other instruments that have been put in place, that is to recognize that they are really people who are so poor that N5,000 can make a difference. That recognition for me is important in a country where nobody has discussed this category of people before.

    “However, the challenge of getting that done is huge given the paucity of data. All the investments we have made in national ID card, you guys know how much previous governments have spent, trying to organize a national data without which really, you can’t deliver a couple of things because you need a data base that is reliable to be to identify who is poor, where is he locate and how do we deliver something to him.

    “But for me, there is a commitment. I can see a heart that cares for the poor. But that doesn’t mean caring for the poor will make the poverty disappear over night But that is a starting point because if you don’t recognize that we have these people amongst us and they are in millions, then you are not even likely to reflect on how to deal with their problems. For me, in terms of values I can see a lot.” he said

  • Don’t ignore Obasanjo’s letter, ex-NANS president tells Buhari

    Don’t ignore Obasanjo’s letter, ex-NANS president tells Buhari

    A former national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comrade Jude Imagwe, has urged President Mohammadu Buhari not to ignore the letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Comrade Imagwe said President Buhari should heed to the advice of Obasanjo saying his administration has failed to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

    Imagwe who was a former Special Assistant on Youth and Students Affair to former President Goodluck Jonathan said it would amount to political suicide for any incumbent Nigeria President Obasanjo’s advice.

    The former NANS president stated that President Buhari should be thinking of handing over the leadership of the country to younger generation as seen in other developed countries.

    Imagwe said it was worrisome that the APC led administration refused to rejig its cabinet three years after assuming power.

    He noted that many ministers have failed to deliver on their mandate to Nigerians.

    He said, “Love or hate former President Obasanjo, he has hit the nail precisely on the head in this instance. APC should own up and stop any further ambition to the highest office especially with their foremost candidate. Buhari must begin to march his word with actions.

    “Any letter from Obasanjo cannot be ignored or thrown away. Most of the active players either public or private sector had work with Obasanjo, which means he assembled credible hands. If you have never been President you will not be in a better position to advice.

    “These are his views and observations from outside because he feels the pulse of the people. Some of the things he advised Buhari are things he wished to have done when he was in office and that is why he must take his advice seriously.

    “Obasanjo assembled minsters that were proactive and dedicated. The mere mention of FCT what come to mind is El’ Rufia, NAFDAC, you think of late Dora Akunyili and so many others

    “Jonathan also had ministers who are credible but that cannot be said with Buhari’s ministers and that is why the so called change agenda still remain a mirage.

    “Nigeria should be entrusted in the hands of the young generation and people who have succeeded in their chosen fields because they think better on how to move the Country forward. Buhari must stand up now and change his cabinet because none of his minsters can be said to be outstanding three years into his administration.”

  • APC chief to Buhari: see Obasanjo’s letter as a challenge

    A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Chief Ovo Ofigo, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to allow ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s letter to dissuade him from seeking re-election.

    He gave the advice in a statement, titled: “Failure is an opportunity for determined people to succeed”.

    Ofigo said the letter should rather be seen as a wakeup call to the President to fulfil his campaign promises.

    The politician, the national coordinator of Buhari Solidarity Movement (BSM), noted that Obasanjo’s letter, although harsh, is a welcome development.

    He urged Buhari to remain focused and use the remaining period of his tenure to do what made Nigerians to vote for him.

    Ofigo said: “If electricity supply is improved, the economy will be boosted. This will make even Obasanjo to vote for the President next year.”

    He appealed to Nigerians to give the President 10 months “to give us the desired change. He should be encouraged to transform the country.”

    Ofigo described Obasanjo as a patriotic Nigerian.

    “He wants Buhari to succeed. I appeal to the President to invite Obasanjo to a roundtable. He is not an enemy. He has spurred Buhari and his aides to work harder.”

  • Obasanjo’s statement was in good faith, we must take responsibility – APC

    Obasanjo’s statement was in good faith, we must take responsibility – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC ) said on Wednesday that it believes that the statement credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the state of the nation was made in good faith.

    It said the ruling party was prepared to take responsibility and learn valuable lessons to move the nation forward.

    In a statement issued after its National Working Committee meeting on Wednesday and signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said while it believes that the former President has a responsibility to intervene if certain things are not being done right, such intervention should be for the sole purpose of improving the system.

    While saying that it cannot react to public criticism with emotions, the party said it believes the former president should not give the impression that none of the political parties in the country is good enough for Nigerians and the only solution to the current challenges being faced in the country is a completely new arrangement.

    The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) notes the statement credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo which has been widely-reported in the media and titled: “The Way out: a clarion call for coalition for Nigeria movement”.

    “While we do not agree with everything the former president said, especially on his assessment of the government and our party, we note the sundry issues raised by the former president, and we assume these were made in good faith.

    “As a father of the nation, we understand that the former president would feel obliged to intervene if certain things are not being done or are not being done in a particular way. However, we believe that such interventions should be for the sole purpose of improving the system and encouraging the relevant institutions to work harder in improving certain situations.

    “It is for this reason that we disagree with the former president in what appears like a wholesale dismissal of the entire political system in the country. We acknowledge our challenges as a new political party, even as we believe that APC remains the best option at this time for all Nigerians who are genuinely committed to the progress and development of the country.

    “We also note that there are about 72 other registered political parties in the country and the people reserve the right to support any of these. Our democracy itself is young and hence all the parties face sundry challenges, but we have made progress since 1999, with President Obasanjo himself being a major contributor to our progress as a multi-party democracy.

    “It is for this reason that we believe the respected former president should not give the impression that none of the political parties in the country is good enough for Nigerians and the only solution to the current challenges that we face is a completely new arrangement.

    “The task of building a political party is not done overnight. Even the oldest of our political parties is still very young in comparison with advanced democracies. Our democracy therefore stands a better chance of becoming really strong if we allow the parties to find their identities, even if in the process they make mistakes and appear to be “wobbling”. No political party arrives fully formed.

    “APC call on all our supporters across the country to remain strong and steadfast. These are challenging times. But we cannot afford to react to public criticism with any form of emotionalism. We are the ruling party. We must take responsibility. Take valuable lessons on board and continue to improve. Regardless of the current challenges, we are confident that brighter future is assured for our party and our country.”

  • Economic reaction to Obasanjo’s letter

    Economic reaction to Obasanjo’s letter

    Swift reactions have trailed the letter written by former president Olusegun Obasanjo particularly his swipe at the President Muhammadu Buhari’s management of the economy.

    In his reaction, Odilim Enwegbara categorically told The Nation that Buhari has not done well when it comes to managing our economy, an economy already battered by President Goodluck Jonathan and Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

    Mr. Odilim Enwegbara, a development economist and financial expert who serves as Chairman/CEO at Pan Africa Development Corporate Company (PADCC) noted that “there is no way Buhari could have been that good a manager of the economy we all thought he was. Not only because throughout his military and recently his political careers he never managed anything close to a serious business.”

    “That was why his coming in 2015 as president of a country which economy was on the verge of collapse, was the worst thing that could have happened to our country” he said.

    Odilim Enwegbara lamented that “that is why he failed to recognize the urgency to surround himself with a team of seasoned and non-conventional economic managers, men and women who could have thought through the complex economic problems and the best possible solutions. But rather his economic team had to worsen the situation to the inevitability of recession. Just a look at all the economic indices and all you can see is a complete economic hopelessness.”

    He dismissed the current accretion into the foreign reserve, stating that “some people are already talking about the so-called $40 billion foreign reserves to be attributed to his good economic management. The first question these enthusiasts have to ask themselves is, should we have had the current high foreign reserves if not because the oil prices have been on the rise? The second question becomes who really owns the forex if not the CBN?”

    Read Also: Obasanjo advises Buhari not to run for second term

    He argued that once the CBN monetizes the patrodollars by handing the three tiers of government its naira equivalent, hence the dollars becomes CBN’s, which it uses in financing our imports as well as in defending the naira.

    Enwegbara noted further that, we don’t require Obasanjo to tell us that the economy has been so battered to the extent that the pump prices of petroleum products are rising without the government knowing what to do to reverse the ugly trend. That has since forced the real economy to the current verge of collapse.

    Regarding the 2017 budget, the economist said “the 2017 budget has its capital portion, yet to be implemented to more than 25% or 30%, in the meantime this government has had record borrowing that today pushed our debt profile to as high as N19 trillion close to 100% what it was in 2015 the year he took over power. In the meantime, our infrastructure has further deteriorated, sending cost of doing business in Nigeria out of control.”

    However he believes there is something good that is happening in agriculture thanks to the CBN agric intervention funds and the role the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) is currently playing in increasing the agricultural value chain through government’s food processing efforts.

    But this efforts he said are “difficult to notice because of the high infrastructure cost which is also being imposed on the same agricultural sector of the economy.”

  • Obasanjo’s letter: We need time to study it – APC

    Obasanjo’s letter: We need time to study it – APC

    The All Progressives Congress ( APC) said it needed time to study the statement, saying it will only respond to the former President’s letter after carefully studying it.

    The Nation gathered that the content of the letter was discussed at a National Working Committee of the party which was ongoing at the time the statement by the former President was made public.

    After an initial WhatsApp message which reads “will respond on this platform asap” National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji said in a short WhatsApp message: “the APC has asked to be given the opportunity to study the statement. We will respond appropriately afterwards.”

    In the said letter, the former President outrightly said that the current administration of President Buhari and his party, All Prigressives Congress (APC) has failed, asking the President not to contest for a second term in office.

    However, National Secretary of Action Democratic Party (ADP), James Okoroma said former Chief Obasanjo was right, adding that the former the former President has set the stage for what he described as a new Nigeria.

    Okoroma said: “Obasanjo has set the stage for a new Nigeria. The damage caused by the Buhari Government is enormous and we must endeavour to rebuild our Country. The former President made it clear in his statement that the Buhari government is a monumental failure.

    “According to Obasanjo, Buhari cannot be credited with any achievement in any sector: Security, education, economy, national cohesion and infrastructural development. Never have we been as divided as we are today.

    “Obasanjo’s description of Buhari as clannish and nepotistic is apt and appropriate. Buhari’s lopsided appointments in favour of his Fulani kinsmen, makes him unworthy of leading other Nigerians. Buhari remains a disappointment to the Nation. His lack of capacity, vindictiveness, narrow mindedness and shallow understanding of global politics, make him a bad choice for the future of Nigeria.

    “Obasanjo has thrown the challenge to all Nigerians. He has even volunteered to be part of a Coalition for a new Nigeria. This government is evil and must give way. In fact, the day I saw the stomach of a pregnant woman ripped open by Fulani Herdsmen in Benue, was the day I knew that God had terminated Buhari’s government spiritually. The physical termination of the life of this government has begun with the new activism championed by Obasanjo.”

    Read Also: Full text of Obasanjo’s statement on Buhari, 2019, others

    Also reacting, National chairman of United Progressives Congress, (UPP) Chief Chekwas Okorie described the statement as timely, adding that the Buhari administration has done enormous danger to the unity of the country than any administration before it.

    He said: “The fact remains that Buhari is non performing, nepotic, sectional and very clueless. He has put Nigeria in more danger than any president before him. He doesn’t behave like one who fought during the civil war. Nigeria is more divisive under Buhari.”

    He however disagreed with the former President’s suggestion that President Buhari should not contest a second term, saying “he should be allowed to run. In fact, I am praying that APC should present him in 2019 to make its defeat easy. His not running will make it difficult to defeat APC.’’

    Also, National Chairman of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) National Chairman Alhaji Ganiyu Galadima said Obasanjo’s statement was sincere and apt, adding that former President Obasanjo is known for his true stand on national issues.

    He said: “The advice of President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Mohammad Buhari not to contest in 2019 is apt and sincere. President Obasanjo is a former Nigerian president known for his truth and bluntness.

    “He is different from other partisan Nigerian leaders who engages in macabre dance of shame and insincerity. He says his own not minding whose ox is gored. He is a patriotic and a detribalised Nigeria and the advice given should be taken in good faith…

    “Whether anybody likes it or not, the health of President Mohammad Buhari is an issue in 2019. The question is this, is he fit enough to be president again in 2019? If I am a family of the President, I will advise him to retire on the ground of His deteriorating health so as to face his health challenge and be useful to his immediate family.

    “Due to his ill-health, president Buhari has been unable to grapple with the challenges of leadership. People have taken the advantage of His health condition to commit political brigandage that has rubbish his reputation while the President couldn’t take action.

    “There is so much corruption, insecurity and lack of sincerity on the part of people working with the president. The President should shun the clarion call of political jobbers and sycophants parading the Presidency urging him to contest. Those people does not mean well for him.”

  • Buhari does not need Obasanjo’s advice says, APGA’s Chairman

    Buhari does not need Obasanjo’s advice says, APGA’s Chairman

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Dr. Victor Oye has taken a swipe at the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo over his advice that President Muhammadu Buhari should not contest the 2019 election.

    Oye said Obasanjo was not in the best position to advise Buhari.

    Read Also: Obasanjo’s letter: We won’t comment now, says Presidency

    “Obasanjo’s opinion and Nigerian’s opinions differ. People might have different opinion. What we need now in Nigeria is for us to remove unnecessary tension.

    “Even if Buhari is not going to run in 2019, we shouldn’t create unnecessary tension because the man himself knows what to do and he doesn’t need Obasanjo’s letter to take such decision,” Oye stated.

    According to the APGA Chairman, “It is Buhari’s entitlement to run for second term, but if he is saying he cannot run, he knows what to do.”

    “When Obasanjo was president what did he do? Was he a wonderful leader? Did he tar road in South-east? Enugu to Port-Hacourt road he didn’t do it. Okigwe to Oga he didn’t do it, and so on, and he busy talking about Nepotism. Obasanjo does not have moral justification to say such a thing.”

  • Obasanjo’s letter: PDP governors’ silence worrisome – Group

    The Northwest Solidarity Forum (NSF) has described the silence of the Peoples Democratic Party governors on the controversial letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Jonathan as worrisome.

    The group’s Zonal Leader, Alhaji Abubakar Danfulani, said in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja that the governors’ silence was worrisome to the Forum, adding that there was need for them to intervene in a measured manner that will engender reconciliation.

    In the statement titled: “Obasanjo’s letter: Where are the PDP governors?” the Forum said it was concerned about the content of the 18-page letter which centred on issues of governance and exposed details of such other issues which should not have been meant for the public space.

    The statement reads: “while the Forum is still pondering the motivation behind the declassification of the letter by Chief Obasanjo, it is quite surprising that none of the governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have deemed it necessary to intervene in the matter through measured comments that will engender reconciliation.

    “The silence in the camp of the PDP governors is worrisome. It gives the Forum the impression that the governors may be sympathetic to the cause of Chief Obasanjo since he was said to have been responsible for the election of no fewer than 18 out of the 23 of them (out of which five have now defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “But is that enough reason to keep mute and stand the risk of being complicit in the grand plan by the former President to expose the underbelly of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration to attacks by the opposition elements?

    “At this point, the PDP governors who believe in the survival of the Federal Government and the PDP cannot afford to sit on the fence or keep mute.

    “They cannot afford to pander to the whims and caprices of an individual who has a personal axe to grind with President Jonathan at the detriment of the Federal Government and the ruling PDP.

    “They must stand up to save the government and the party from the grand conspiratorial alliances that are being maliciously coupled by Chief Obasanjo with a view to undermining the Federal Government under the watch of President Jonathan.”

     

  • Obasanjo’s Letter: State your side of the story, Ojudu urges Jonathan

    Obasanjo’s Letter: State your side of the story, Ojudu urges Jonathan

    The allegation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the Jonathan presidency has 1, 000 people on political watch-list and also training assassins is not one that any well-meaning or peace-loving president can muddle up with personality attacks.

    A member of the Senate Committee on Defence and Army, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who represents Ekiti Central, made this statement in Abuja.

    Ojudu said rather than disparage the person of Obasanjo, the Jonathan presidency should explain its side of the story to Nigerians, unless it was busy strategising on the most suitable lie to sweep the allegation under the carpet.

    He argued that: “No matter the name they call Obasanjo at this time, all that is irrelevant. What matters and should be of serious concern to all Nigerians is the yet-to-be-denied allegation that a sitting Nigerian president is arming and training snipers, ready to pounce at any time on any of the 1, 000 on Jonathan’s alleged watch-list.”

    Ojudu said of more concern is the logical assumption that vibrant leaders and members of the opposition must be those who populate the list, adding that security agencies have an uncompromising task at this time to protect these assumed endangered species from such killer squad, if it really exists.

    He added that the letter from Obasanjo to President Jonathan has shown Nigerians where to look should any opposition leader get assassinated.

    “How can grave and fear-evoking allegations as these be levelled against a sitting president and all his spokesperson could muster is that Obasanjo is self-serving. Honestly, this claim by Reuben Abati that the president will respond at the appropriate time sends a wrong signal. It gives one the feeling that they are rather looking for the appropriate lie. If Mr. President has nothing to hide, he should be able to explain with facts to Nigerians his own side of the story. These are not the kind of allegations that one sleeps over.