The
cold war between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Goodluck
Jonathan Administration came again to the fore on Sunday at a
thanksgiving service held in honour of a former Minister of Education,
Oby Ezekwesili, in Abuja.
cold war between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Goodluck
Jonathan Administration came again to the fore on Sunday at a
thanksgiving service held in honour of a former Minister of Education,
Oby Ezekwesili, in Abuja.
At
the service that had many eminent Nigerians, including a former Head of the
Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye, and ex-Attorney General
of Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, in attendance, Obasanjo said
if the Goodluck Jonathan administration was keen on probing his
government, it should come after him instead of people that served under
him.
the service that had many eminent Nigerians, including a former Head of the
Service of the Federation, Steve Oronsaye, and ex-Attorney General
of Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi, in attendance, Obasanjo said
if the Goodluck Jonathan administration was keen on probing his
government, it should come after him instead of people that served under
him.
He also
flayed the plan by the Federal Government to set up a pipeline protection
agency, saying it was another avenue for corruption.
flayed the plan by the Federal Government to set up a pipeline protection
agency, saying it was another avenue for corruption.
But
Obasanjo’s comments drew the ire of the Presidency which said no past
administration, either past or present, should be afraid of probe. It
also advised the former President to allow Jonathan to do his
work.
Obasanjo’s comments drew the ire of the Presidency which said no past
administration, either past or present, should be afraid of probe. It
also advised the former President to allow Jonathan to do his
work.
The
former leader had at the 50th birthday thanksgiving service for
Ezekwesili, said, “I have always said this, whatever you want to blame in my
government, blame me; don’t blame any of those people who assisted me. If there
is any credit to dispense, we share it. But for anything you want to say is
wrong, I was the one in charge and I was in charge.”
former leader had at the 50th birthday thanksgiving service for
Ezekwesili, said, “I have always said this, whatever you want to blame in my
government, blame me; don’t blame any of those people who assisted me. If there
is any credit to dispense, we share it. But for anything you want to say is
wrong, I was the one in charge and I was in charge.”
Obasanjo,
whose comments were necessitated by the war of words between Ezekwesili, and
the Presidency over the $67bn the Jonathan administraion inherited from his
government, said he had absolute trust in those that worked under him,
especially as ministers.
whose comments were necessitated by the war of words between Ezekwesili, and
the Presidency over the $67bn the Jonathan administraion inherited from his
government, said he had absolute trust in those that worked under him,
especially as ministers.
Ezekwesili’s
claim that the Federal Government squandered the sum was described
by the Presidency as reckless.
claim that the Federal Government squandered the sum was described
by the Presidency as reckless.
Turning
to the former Education minister, Obasanjo said he was sure nothing
would be found against her because of her integrity and commitment to public
service.
to the former Education minister, Obasanjo said he was sure nothing
would be found against her because of her integrity and commitment to public
service.
He
said, “Actually those who wanted to probe you (Ezekwesili), you should have
asked them to go ahead because if they are honest, they would find out that
the government should give you money for what you have done for this
country without stealing money.”
said, “Actually those who wanted to probe you (Ezekwesili), you should have
asked them to go ahead because if they are honest, they would find out that
the government should give you money for what you have done for this
country without stealing money.”
Obasanjo,
who is the immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board
of Trustees, then faced Oronsaye, Agabi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria
Governor, Charles Soludo; and ex- Minister of Information, Frank Nweke
Jnr., and said, “When I look at you, I thank God for making you
available to serve in my administration, to serve Nigeria and serve God at the
time you did.”
who is the immediate past Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Board
of Trustees, then faced Oronsaye, Agabi, a former Central Bank of Nigeria
Governor, Charles Soludo; and ex- Minister of Information, Frank Nweke
Jnr., and said, “When I look at you, I thank God for making you
available to serve in my administration, to serve Nigeria and serve God at the
time you did.”
But
he faulted Agabi’s earlier call at the service for the
establishment of a National Commission for Integration,
saying it was not necessary. According to him, the
entire 1999 Constitution is for integration.
he faulted Agabi’s earlier call at the service for the
establishment of a National Commission for Integration,
saying it was not necessary. According to him, the
entire 1999 Constitution is for integration.
“What
else do you need. You have a constitution that is intended to integrate the
country. You have the Federal Character Commissiom for
instance. What is that one meant to do? It is for integration. The entire
constitution is all about integrating this country. If at all we failed to use
it, it can even be said that we have breached the constitution. You don’t need
a commission for integration,” Obasanjo added.
else do you need. You have a constitution that is intended to integrate the
country. You have the Federal Character Commissiom for
instance. What is that one meant to do? It is for integration. The entire
constitution is all about integrating this country. If at all we failed to use
it, it can even be said that we have breached the constitution. You don’t need
a commission for integration,” Obasanjo added.
On the
planned agency for pipeline protection, the former President said it
would be another avenue for corruption.
planned agency for pipeline protection, the former President said it
would be another avenue for corruption.
“This
(Sunday) morning, I was travelling from Abeokuta and I was listening to a
radio station when I heard that they (government) are going to set up an
agency for pipeline protection. Now, what are the police for? What are all the
security agencies that we have doing? This is another chop chop.
(Sunday) morning, I was travelling from Abeokuta and I was listening to a
radio station when I heard that they (government) are going to set up an
agency for pipeline protection. Now, what are the police for? What are all the
security agencies that we have doing? This is another chop chop.
For
those advocating change in Nigeria, Obasanjo said they must be prepared
to take insults.
those advocating change in Nigeria, Obasanjo said they must be prepared
to take insults.
“I just
hope that we will get it right. We have no choice, we have to get it right. Let
us decide individually that ‘I would do what I have to do to bring about change
in Nigeria.’ If you do that, let me assure you, you will be called names; you
will be abused; some people are hired to do that. But like Oby (Ezekwesili) say
what you believe is right and stand by it.
hope that we will get it right. We have no choice, we have to get it right. Let
us decide individually that ‘I would do what I have to do to bring about change
in Nigeria.’ If you do that, let me assure you, you will be called names; you
will be abused; some people are hired to do that. But like Oby (Ezekwesili) say
what you believe is right and stand by it.
But the
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak,
responded to Obasanjo’s comments, saying that any administration
could be probed.
Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak,
responded to Obasanjo’s comments, saying that any administration
could be probed.
Gulak,
in an interview with one of our correspondents, argued that even the current
administration was being probed regularly by the legislative arm of government.
in an interview with one of our correspondents, argued that even the current
administration was being probed regularly by the legislative arm of government.
He
added, “ This administration and past administrations can be probed. Nobody
should be afraid of probe.”
added, “ This administration and past administrations can be probed. Nobody
should be afraid of probe.”
On
Obasanjo’s description of the planned pipeline protection agency as
another chop chop, Gulak said as an elderstatesman,
Obasanjo should not just criticise government for its sake, but
should proffer solutions if indeed he loves the country.
Obasanjo’s description of the planned pipeline protection agency as
another chop chop, Gulak said as an elderstatesman,
Obasanjo should not just criticise government for its sake, but
should proffer solutions if indeed he loves the country.
He said
since Obasanjo was not the present President, he should allow the incumbent to
concentrate on his job.
since Obasanjo was not the present President, he should allow the incumbent to
concentrate on his job.
Gulak
said, “The former President is entitled to his opinion; but he is not the
President. He should allow the President to do his work. People should
stop making derogatory statements about the President. There is only one
President in the country today and we should all support him.
said, “The former President is entitled to his opinion; but he is not the
President. He should allow the President to do his work. People should
stop making derogatory statements about the President. There is only one
President in the country today and we should all support him.
“People
should not just be criticising government. As an elderstatesman, if he indeed
loves this country, he should proffer solutions rather than criticising.”
should not just be criticising government. As an elderstatesman, if he indeed
loves this country, he should proffer solutions rather than criticising.”
Some
aides of the former President- Hassan Lawal, Nasir el-Rufa, Femi
Fani-Kayode, and Adeyanju Bodunde – are currently being tried
for various offences.
aides of the former President- Hassan Lawal, Nasir el-Rufa, Femi
Fani-Kayode, and Adeyanju Bodunde – are currently being tried
for various offences.
While
Lawal, a former Minister of Works, is being prosecuted
for N75bn fraud, el-Rufai, an ex- Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, is facing trial for irregular land
allocation and abuse of office.
Lawal, a former Minister of Works, is being prosecuted
for N75bn fraud, el-Rufai, an ex- Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory, is facing trial for irregular land
allocation and abuse of office.
Fani-Kayode,
who is former Minister of Aviation, is facing trial for money
laundering while and Bodunde, an special assistant to
Obasanjo, was in 2011 arraigned for his alleged involvement in the $180m
Harlibutton bribery scandal.
who is former Minister of Aviation, is facing trial for money
laundering while and Bodunde, an special assistant to
Obasanjo, was in 2011 arraigned for his alleged involvement in the $180m
Harlibutton bribery scandal.
Ezekwesili
had in her remarks, recalled how her parents moulded her by teaching
her moral values. She said she could not understand why people
would wanted to enjoy a life that they never worked for.
had in her remarks, recalled how her parents moulded her by teaching
her moral values. She said she could not understand why people
would wanted to enjoy a life that they never worked for.
“I was
born to parents who are from a humble family. My daddy was a man of
uncompromising integrity. My daddy worked in Nigeria Ports Authority. He used
to say to us that the NPA had become a centre of corruption. That was so
many years ago. My mother talked my father out of public service because she
was afraid for him.
born to parents who are from a humble family. My daddy was a man of
uncompromising integrity. My daddy worked in Nigeria Ports Authority. He used
to say to us that the NPA had become a centre of corruption. That was so
many years ago. My mother talked my father out of public service because she
was afraid for him.
“My
mother used to go to what we call bend down boutiques in Tejuosho Market in
Lagos to buy clothes for us. She knew what they called grade one okrika
(used clothes). We did not have money. We were poor but rich in
values. Those values shaped everything about me. From young age, good
governance and accountability mattered to me,” she told the congregation.
mother used to go to what we call bend down boutiques in Tejuosho Market in
Lagos to buy clothes for us. She knew what they called grade one okrika
(used clothes). We did not have money. We were poor but rich in
values. Those values shaped everything about me. From young age, good
governance and accountability mattered to me,” she told the congregation.
Ezekwesil,
who said she felt “a sense of completion of a certain phase in my life,”
added that corruption in governance today might not allow a child of
similar background to survive.
who said she felt “a sense of completion of a certain phase in my life,”
added that corruption in governance today might not allow a child of
similar background to survive.
“In a
relatively decent society, I got the kind of education that has taken me thus
far. I was Minister of Education. A similarly poor child, who comes from the kind
of family I came from when I was young would not have the kind of opportunities
that I had in this same nation.
relatively decent society, I got the kind of education that has taken me thus
far. I was Minister of Education. A similarly poor child, who comes from the kind
of family I came from when I was young would not have the kind of opportunities
that I had in this same nation.
“We
must therefore build a decent society that does not sow this terrible
seed of inequality that I see around me today. When I see the children
of drivers, the gardeners and I see that they will not have the kind of
education and opportunities that I had, it pains me.”
must therefore build a decent society that does not sow this terrible
seed of inequality that I see around me today. When I see the children
of drivers, the gardeners and I see that they will not have the kind of
education and opportunities that I had, it pains me.”
On why
she criticised the government recently, she replied that “democracy is
incomplete without the engagement of citizens in the process.
The demand for accountability and results is the right of
citizens.”
she criticised the government recently, she replied that “democracy is
incomplete without the engagement of citizens in the process.
The demand for accountability and results is the right of
citizens.”
In his
homily, Rev. Dr. William Okoye, appealed to Nigerians to shun corruption and be
contented.
homily, Rev. Dr. William Okoye, appealed to Nigerians to shun corruption and be
contented.
According
to him, any nation that places values on materialism is doomed.
to him, any nation that places values on materialism is doomed.
“Life
is not about material things that some of us are concerned about today. Life
consists of far more than that. When people value money more than life
and God, they can do anything. The life you live pursuing
mundane things at the expense of God has no blessing and can’t save you.”
is not about material things that some of us are concerned about today. Life
consists of far more than that. When people value money more than life
and God, they can do anything. The life you live pursuing
mundane things at the expense of God has no blessing and can’t save you.”
Source: Punch
