Obasanjo: An Exit Strategy by Reuben Abati

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

The President's political strategists, faced with the widespread opposition to the now infamous third term agenda, are reportedly working on what the media has termed "Plan B". The original plan was meant to ensure an amendment of the 1999 Constitution to offer the President an additional period of four years in office. The on-going debate of that proposition in the National Assembly indicates that it will be difficult for the "third termers" to gain a legislative two-thirds majority in that regard. Plan B is designed as a face-saving option.

The failure of the third term proposal on the floor of the National Assembly translates simply into an open demonisation of the President and his supporters. The President in particular, has suddenly become an enemy of democracy who must be stopped at all costs. A Plan B which, as proposed, would offer him a two-year extension in office as President could reduce the effect of this open disgrace. Its architects obviously do not want the Presidency to be ridiculed. They can pretend that their plan is to protect the Presidency as a key democratic institution.

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ARRIVES NAIROBI FOR 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF KENYA

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK RECEIVING A BANQUET OF FLOWER FROM LITTLE MISS BETH WANJIKU DURING HIS ARRIVAL AT THE NAIROBI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT FOR THE 50TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY OF KENYA ON WEDNESDAY (11/12/13)

The Atiku Revolt against Obasanjo's Third Term by Reuben Abati

The details of what was discussed by the 200 anti-third term campaigners who were barred from holding a meeting at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 5, have now become public knowledge. When this is placed beside the motives of their traducers masquerading as state agents, it is safe to conclude that it is indeed a sad moment for Nigeria. The third-term gang included Major-General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Ghali Na'Abba, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Audu Ogbeh, former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji M. D. Yusuf, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, Governors Bola Tinubu, Boni Haruna, Orji Kalu, and Senator Uche Chukwumerije.... It was in one word, a gathering of well-known opponents of the Obasanjo administration - many of whom have had cause to criticise the government openly on issues of policy, and in the cases of Ogbeh, and Ghali Na'Abba, and former Governors Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba and Niyi Adebayo, these are bold critics of the ruling PDP and its methods.

Third Term and the National Assembly by Reuben Abati

The present National Assembly and all the Houses of Assembly in the states face a strong moral burden following the conclusion of the so-called public hearings on constitutional amendments in the country's six geo-political zones. It is left to them to process the various recommendations and amend the constitution accordingly. They are in a position to either defend the interest of the people or betray the entire nation. The politics of constitutional amendment has thus been reduced to the issue of the integrity of our lawmakers. It is possible to take a cynical view and conclude that this National Assembly which has been accused of indolence, and an acute obsession with privileges and opportunities for self-enrichment would behave true to pattern. Or that the lawmakers in the states will simply read the lips of their Governors. That is, they will willy-nilly turn the constitution amendment process into an assault against the people, trade with the issues and damn the consequences. But that is precisely the reason why all concerned Nigerians should begin to speak up and confront the lawmakers with the moral weight of the choices that they are about to make.

OBASANJO’S LETTER UNBECOMING, SELF-SERVING AND HIGHLY PROVOCATIVE

We have noted the publication on several websites today of a letter recently written by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
The Presidency acknowledges that it has indeed received the said letter from Chief Obasanjo.

We however find it highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative that a letter written by a former Head of State and respected elder statesman to President Jonathan  has been deliberately leaked to the mass media in a deplorable effort to impugn the integrity of the President and denigrate his commitment to giving Nigeria the best possible leadership.

While many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land, President Jonathan has directed that none of his aides or any government official should join issues with Chief Obasanjo over it.

PHOTOS: PRESIDENT JONATHAN ATTENDS LYING-IN-STATE OF LATE NELSON MANDELA

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN ARRIVING THE UNION BUILDINGS, VENUE OF THE LYING IN STATE OF THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA OF SOUTH AFRICA IN PRETORIA (11/12/13)

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK JONATHAN AT THE UNION BUILDINGS,VENUE OF THE LYING IN STATE OF THE LATE FORMER PRESIDENT NELSON MANDELA OF SOUTH AFRICA IN PRETORIA (11/12/13)

NNPC Rejects CBN's $49.8bn Non-remittance Claim

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Tuesday said the  report credited to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, where he alleged that it withheld the sum of $49.8 billion representing about 76 per cent of the total crude oil revenues from January 2012 to July 2013 was false.

The corporation in a statement signed by its General Manager, Media Relations Department, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, in Abuja said the allegation by the CBN was borne out of its  misunderstanding of the workings of the oil and gas industry and the modality for remitting crude oil sales revenue into the federation account.

Senate fails to quiz Oduah on N255m car scandal

The Senate on Tuesday rejected the explanation of the Minister of Aviation,  Ms. Stella Oduah, on the ill-fated crash involving a 23-year – old Propeller aeroplane belonging to the Associated Airlines on October 3.
The upper legislative house asked the minister to re-submit a detailed presentation on the incident.
Oduah, who appeared before the senate committee on aviation in company with heads of the various agencies under her ministry had limited her presentation to the information retrieved from the black box of the aircraft.

‘I tried to butcher Lee Rigby’ says Michael Adebolajo

The London-based Nigerian, Michael Adebolajo, who is accused of killing Lee Rigby, a 25-year old British military man has told a court in the country how he tried to decapitate his victim after the dastardly act, the Daily Mail has reported.
His description of how he knocked down the military officer and attempted to butcher him made the widow of Rigby run out of the court as she betrayed her emotion.
Adebolajo, 28 and Michael Adebowale, a 22-year old now at large, are accused of murdering Rigby by running him down with a car and then hacking him to death with a meat cleaver and knives near Woolwich Barracks in south east London on 22 May. The incident happened at Woolwich Barracks.

Suspicion of Murder: Housewife, Pastor Arrested

Nigerian police detectives from the Edo State Police Command have arrested and detained a housewife and her lover, a pastor, over the murder of her husband, Victor Nsongbunyo, a Deputy Manager with the Nigeria Petroleum Development (NPDC) Company, in Benin.
It was gathered that the woman and her deceased husband, a native of Cross River State, who was recently promoted to Deputy Manager in the company and was due to retire from service next year, had been having issues with the paternity of their children after he suspected the wife was having an extra marital affair with the Pastor.