The simmering differences between former president Olusegun
Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan has taken a turn for the worst, with
the former leader pointedly blaming Jonathan for the festering crises in most
parts of Northern Nigeria following attacks by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
Obasanjo and President Goodluck Jonathan has taken a turn for the worst, with
the former leader pointedly blaming Jonathan for the festering crises in most
parts of Northern Nigeria following attacks by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram.
In a recent interview published in this month’s edition of the
pan-African magazine, New Africa, the former president accused Jonathan of
mismanaging the security issues engulfing the country.
pan-African magazine, New Africa, the former president accused Jonathan of
mismanaging the security issues engulfing the country.
“If the president is the chief security officer of the country
and there is a security problem, where do you go for solution? And if that
solution is not coming from the chief security officer, who has everybody and
can mobilize everybody, inside and outside to get a solution, then he has the
responsibility to solve the problem. And nobody else should be blamed but him.”
and there is a security problem, where do you go for solution? And if that
solution is not coming from the chief security officer, who has everybody and
can mobilize everybody, inside and outside to get a solution, then he has the
responsibility to solve the problem. And nobody else should be blamed but him.”
Obasanjo’s broadside is coming on the heels of a recent claim by
a former minister in the Obasanjo’s cabinet, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili that the two
administrations that succeeded Obasanjo’s – Yar’Adua and the present Jonathan’s
administration, squandered $67 billion left in the nation’s foreign reserve.
a former minister in the Obasanjo’s cabinet, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili that the two
administrations that succeeded Obasanjo’s – Yar’Adua and the present Jonathan’s
administration, squandered $67 billion left in the nation’s foreign reserve.
It will also be recalled that the former president
unceremoniously stepped down as the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the
ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The faction loyal to him and that of
Jonathan are presently locked in a no-win battle on who becomes the BoT
chairman.
unceremoniously stepped down as the Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman of the
ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). The faction loyal to him and that of
Jonathan are presently locked in a no-win battle on who becomes the BoT
chairman.
Last year, the former president had on his own initiated moves
at finding a solution to the Boko Haram insurgency. He visited Maiduguri and
met with some personalities.
at finding a solution to the Boko Haram insurgency. He visited Maiduguri and
met with some personalities.
President Jonathan has not visited Borno or Yobe states since
the insurgency started. However, Vice-president Namadi Sambo is billed to visit
Borno state today on a one-day visit.
the insurgency started. However, Vice-president Namadi Sambo is billed to visit
Borno state today on a one-day visit.
Obasanjo in the interview also rebuffed literary giant, Chinua
Achebe’s claim that the Igbo ethnic group have been marginalized since after
the Nigerian civil war.
Achebe’s claim that the Igbo ethnic group have been marginalized since after
the Nigerian civil war.
Achebe in his recent book; “There Was A Country”, had noted the
plight of the Igbo in the post civil war Nigeria.
plight of the Igbo in the post civil war Nigeria.
But Obasanjo, one of the principal actors during the war, in the
interview said that Achebe’s views was because the writer resides outside the
country and therefore not at home with the happenings in the country in recent
time.
interview said that Achebe’s views was because the writer resides outside the
country and therefore not at home with the happenings in the country in recent
time.
His words: “May be he is making those remarks because he is not
living in Nigeria. If he were living in Nigeria, when I was the president of
this country, an Igbo lady was my minister of finance, an Igbo man was the
governor of the Central Bank. An Igbo man was one of the military service
chiefs. The Permanent Representative to the United Nation was also an Igbo
person. What more do you want?
living in Nigeria. If he were living in Nigeria, when I was the president of
this country, an Igbo lady was my minister of finance, an Igbo man was the
governor of the Central Bank. An Igbo man was one of the military service
chiefs. The Permanent Representative to the United Nation was also an Igbo
person. What more do you want?
“For someone to say that the civil war has not ended, 40 years
after its conclusion, that person is living in the past.”
after its conclusion, that person is living in the past.”
Source: Leadership
