BARELY a week after his hard attacks on President Goodluck Jonathan, there were indications that the presidency may move against ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo by revisiting the probe of the $13.278billion power projects which were executed between 1999 and 2007 when Obasanjo was in office.
Already, one of the daughters of the ex-President is under investigation over alleged deals with a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Presidency during the same period. The said daughter was said to be benefiting to the tune of $300,000 per month in the unnamed deals.
Apparently aware of the moves, the immediate past governor of Osun State and former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, has warned aides to President Jonathan to leave the ex- president alone. He also warned against desecrating the Presidency as an institution.
He said at no time did Obasanjo propose the Interim National Government(ING) .
Findings by Th Nation revealed that some forces in the Presidency and the PDP had been working round the clock on how to subject Obasanjo to ridicule.
It was gathered that the 2009 report of the House of Representatives Committee on Power and Steel on the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) had been retrieved by the forces in order to hang something on Obasanjo.
The committee had said that about $13.278billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007.
Also, the committee recommended the termination of 13 contracts and a review of 10 projects.
About 15 contracting and consulting companies were asked to be investigated by the appropriate agencies.
The committee , it was further learnt, recommended the investigation of 18 people, including Obasanjo , by the EFCC and the ICPC, blaming them for the failure of the projects between 1999 and 2007 .
A highly-placed source, who spoke in confidence, said: “For his daring attacks on President Jonathan, some forces in the Presidency and PDP are out for vengeance.
“They are plotting to revisit how $13.278billion was spent on power projects between 1999 and 2007. They said there is a subsisting report of the House of Representatives on the wastage in the power sector.
“They said they want to demonstrate the government’s further commitment to the anti-corruption campaign by revisiting the NIPP projects.
“They are also placing Obasanjo under surveillance because they believe he is allegedly up to something against the government. That is their perception.
“They have accused him of allegedly promoting the ING idea which Obasanjo’s camp has denied.”
However, some stalwarts of the PDP are opposed to any move against Obasanjo, believing that the step will heat up the polity and portray the party in bad light.
A leader of the party said: “There are moves to demystify Obasanjo in one way or the other, but it might backfire. For instance, the House report on the NIPP recommended the investigation of 18 people, some of whom are loyalists of President Jonathan. Some of them include Governor Liyel Imoke; the late Governor Olusegun Agagu; ex-Minister of State for Energy, Alhaji Abdulahamid Ahmed; a former MD of PHCN, Mr. Joseph Makoju; the CEO of TCN, Engr. G.O.P Osakue; Head Transmission, TCN, Engr. Dr. C.E. Ifesie; AGM, Lines, Engr. Mike Ezeudenna; the Chairman of the Technical Committee and General Project Manager, Engr. C. N.O. Nwachukwu; Deputy Chairman, Technical Committee, Engr. I. Onuoha; and the MD, NDPHC/NIPP, Mr. J. A. Olotu, among others.
“If they single out Obasanjo, it may become a scandal for the PDP government because many people will be rubbished.”
Another source also claimed that the Presidency has drawn a battle line against Obasanjo by placing one of his daughters under surveillance over alleged deals with one of the subsidiaries of NNPC and the Presidency
The source said: “The deals involving the daughter of the ex-president at the NNPC subsidiary and the Presidency are allegedly worth $300,000 per month. We don’t know why the girl is now being subjected to investigation because her father criticized the President, “
He said the forces are determined to lay all the cards on the table for Nigerians and the international community to see “ those who criticizing Jonathan .”
In a statement yesterday, Oyinlola warned presidential aides against desecrating the Presidency with falsehood and casting aspersions on ex- President Obasanjo.
Obasanjo , he said, was not behind the ING project as being insinuated.
Oyinlola said in the statement : “On Saturday, February 14, presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, issued a statement in response to an earlier press conference by former President Obasanjo. Abati, who obviously spoke on behalf of President Jonathan, alleged that General Obasanjo condemned the recent postponement of elections in the country because he was scheming with “others within and outside the country” to
enthrone an ING which he claimed Obasanjo wanted to head.
“I feel it would deepen the current discourse in the country, if I call the attention of President Jonathan and, indeed, the entire country to former President Obasanjo’s position on the ING and all other political arrangements, post 1999, which are at variance with the constitution.
“On May 28, 2007, 24 hours before the swearing in of Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua as President and Dr Jonathan as Vice President, General Obasanjo made a broadcast to the country in which he clearly stated that in the new Nigeria which emerged after the exit of the military in 1999 and which he was handing over after piloting it for eight years, terminating on May 29, 2007, there would never be a place for coups and the Interim National Governments again.
“Indeed, he listed elimination of coups and negation of the possibility of having any ING and other political arrangements that are not rooted in the constitution as once regarded as the preserve of a privileged few, are now commonly accessible to all. These are solid foundations upon which future governments can build.
“In Science and Technology, in Agriculture and Food Security, our nation has made tremendous and noticeable progress. Nigeria is not only becoming a food sufficient nation but also a food-exporting nation.
“Our industrial take-off is today more assured than at any other time in the past years. There still remains a lot that we must do. I have confidence that we are well on our way to a glorious destination.
“With determination, with tenacity and with the courage of our conviction, we can continue to face the future with confidence. We have set for ourselves ambitious targets that will make us one of the largest economies in the world by the year 2020. It is attainable and achievable but if we divert from the path of economic prudence, reform
and realities, we can miss the road. Then, the year 2020 will be amirage. God forbid!
“We have waged relentless battles to correct many of the ills in our society. We have demonstrated our determination to bring about a more moral society. We see a bright and prosperous future for our country.
“I am particularly gratified to note how united our country is today, better than any other time in the past. In the past few months, Nigerians, from every corner of the country have amply demonstrated their yearnings for national unity, for harmony and for progress.
“The recent events have indicated that we are no longer divided along ethnic, tribal, religious lines or north-south divide. We have become simply Nigerians interested in the development and progress of our country. This is a great gain. Let us respect this spirit of oneness and unity in all that we do from now on.
“Tomorrow, I will hand over the instruments of governance to Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, our newly-elected President. He is a man in whom I have great confidence. I have worked with him and observed him at very close quarters. I know his track record and his pedigree. I have confidence that he will discharge his mandate to the satisfaction of all Nigerians. I pledge my continued support for him and his Government.
“Nigeria is in a better shape today than any time since 1979. We have
started to move to the glory that God has ordained for us. Let me end this farewell address by thanking all Nigerians for eight years of working together for our fatherland. I am particularly grateful to my critics for keeping me constantly on my toes. Let us continue in the same spirit of what is best for our country motivated by patriotism and fear of God. I bid you good night and goodbye. God bless you. God bless Nigeria.”
The Nation
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