Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has criticised the establishment of an agency to protect oil pipelines and described it as corruption in governance.



The former president also said he is ready for a probe of his eight-year administration instead of the present administration descending on his cabinet ministers.

Mr Obasanjo, who made the criticism at the 50th birthday thanksgiving of former minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili in Abuja, said he is ready to account for his stewardship.

He said if the present government finds anything wrong with his administration, he would bear the responsibility.

The former President was reacting to the recent moves to probe Mrs Ezekwesili by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and challenge thrown to the former World Bank VP by the presidency to account for her tenure as Minister of Education.

He 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 dares Jonathan on probe of corruption



• Says ‘ hold me liable, not Ezekwesili’

• Faults pipeline protection contract

• Graft now democratised, ex-minister insists

IT has been an intermittent disagreement that is sometimes considered to have been magnified by the public. But the face-off now festers, and erstwhile President Olusegun Obasanjo did not mind letting the public know this.

Sunday, Obasanjo told his estranged protégé President Goodluck Jonathan that he was not serious about fighting corruption.

He told Jonathan that he should demonstrate his fight against corruption by directing it on him (Obasanjo) rather than one of his former ministers, Oby Ezekwesili.

Obasanjo, who spoke in Abuja at the 50th birthday thanksgiving of Ezekwesili, said that the Jonathan government would not find anything against the former Minister of Education and World Bank chief.

He noted that as head of government for eight years, he should be held liable if any of his ministers was found wanting.

Obasanjo, who also spoke on the planned pipeline protection contract, described it as an avenue for corruption.

The former President said in defence of Ezekwesili: “Those who wanted to probe you, you should have asked them to, because if they are honest probers, they will find out that the government of Nigeria should give you money for what you have done for this country without stealing money.

“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.”

He continued: “This morning, I was travelling from Abeokuta and I was listening to radio. I heard that they said that they are going to set up an agency for pipeline protection. Now, what are the police there for? What are all the security agencies that we have doing? This is another chop chop.

“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 said, if what you believe is right, stand by it.”

On her part, Ezekwesili, who spoke with reporters after a church service held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a reception at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, lamented that endemic corruption was destroying the country.

She said the country was suffering from the woes of the past, calling on the citizens to demand accountability from their elected officials.

She said: “I am not a politician. The day I decide that I want to become a politician you don’t need to guess, you will see me. I am very candid. I am very frank. I am too honest to play games on things that I believe in.

“I am not a politician but I am an active citizen who is basically carrying out the role that every citizen of this nation must carry out. We are going through challenges that require a very strong sense of sacrificial leadership. The corruption in the society now is so endemic it has almost become democratised and that is going to sink us. We need to tackle corruption as we will tackle cancer. It can kill. There is no need pretending that this country is not burdened by corruption. Every Nigerian knows that we have a problem.”

Ezekwesili attracted criticism from the Jonathan administration when she raised questions on what the Jonathan Presidency has done with the $67 billion purportedly left by Obasanjo. She spoke at a convocation of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

Since then, Obasanjo’s and Jonathan’s aides have been at loggerheads, leading to another call by Ezekwesili for a public debate on the issue.

The Jonathan government has subtly turned down the call for a public debate on the issue. The government has rather sent some of the nation’s anti-corruption agencies to the Ministry of Education to snoop around if there were suspicious contracts awarded during the tenure of Ezekwesili, who is fondly called “Madam Due Process.”

tomakint: Obasanjo is definitely a clown on this one! His display of shameless boldness is laughable. If I may ask what happened to the $16 billion spent on power? Over 200 million units of shares he and his cronies owned in Transcorp? The over N6 billion fraud he called Presidential library? The many allegations levelled against him by El-Rufai (a serving minister in his cabinet)? The Ministry of Petroleum he illegally served as the de facto minister for 8 years and many more. Kai, this Baba Iyabo can lie

tomakint: Obasanjo is definitely a clown on this one! His display of shameless boldness is laughable. If I may ask what happened to the $16 billion spent on power? Over 200 million units of shares he and his cronies owned in Transcorp? The over N6 billion fraud he called Presidential library? The many allegations levelled against him by El-Rufai (a serving minister in his cabinet)? The Ministry of Petroleum he illegally served as the de facto minister for 8 years and many more. Kai, this Baba Iyabo can lie

CyberG: Obasanjo is the MAN no retardeen will be in a BILLION years! A leader that GEJ Daftluck will never be even if he rigged himself in a trillion times! The usual PDP defenders like tomkaint, payless, goddex, etc are all here with their tomfoolery but that has not changed the fact that retardeen badluck will never have any good thing about him in the history books of Nigeria. The contract to the Israelis is a waste of money because it is un-needed, wasteful and will be scrapped as soon as a serious government displaces this useless one. How does a sovereign country contract the details and secrets of its people and leadership to a foreign country? At $40 M, providing 0 experience, expertise and jobs for Nigerians? The software is not and will never be developed or brought to Nigeria nor the ideas behind them so any Nigerian can learn! Retardeen just needs to witch-hunt any dissenting Nigerian with our money?

Mark my words, the retardeen will be the biggest loser in the grand scheme of things if he manages to keep his skin alive. Back in the day in Ife when Obasanjo was president, Oil companies, mobile phone companies, banks, consulting companies all come to recruit graduating students to work in Lagos and all over Nigeria. Now it is all gone and replaced by fresh air!

CyberG: Obasanjo is the MAN no retardeen will be in a BILLION years! A leader that GEJ Daftluck will never be even if he rigged himself in a trillion times! The usual PDP defenders like tomkaint, payless, goddex, etc are all here with their tomfoolery but that has not changed the fact that retardeen badluck will never have any good thing about him in the history books of Nigeria. The contract to the Israelis is a waste of money because it is un-needed, wasteful and will be scrapped as soon as a serious government displaces this useless one. How does a sovereign country contract the details and secrets of its people and leadership to a foreign country? At $40 M, providing 0 experience, expertise and jobs for Nigerians? The software is not and will never be developed or brought to Nigeria nor the ideas behind them so any Nigerian can learn! Retardeen just needs to witch-hunt any dissenting Nigerian with our money?

Mark my words, the retardeen will be the biggest loser in the grand scheme of things if he manages to keep his skin alive. Back in the day in Ife when Obasanjo was president, Oil companies, mobile phone companies, banks, consulting companies all come to recruit graduating students to work in Lagos and all over Nigeria. Now it is all gone and replaced by fresh air!

payless:


Get your facts right. I am not GEJ defender in anyway. I am his number enemy on this forum.


Get your facts right, bro. I am not GEJ defender in anyway. I am his number enemy on this forum. I can't stand the retardeen. Although, I supported him after Yar'Adua died in office, but that was in the past. I have been against him since he began to dine and wine with corrupt entities like Anenih and co. Suspension of subsidy was the last straw for me.

emmatok:


No need stories,
Tell your Oga GEJ to
PROBE HIM IF YOU CAN.

lacasa: Retardeeen over to u

Sincere 9gerian: It is only sensible not to add the battle of former head of states (OBJ, IBB,etc) to the plate now. The current president already has his plate FULL, more than any president before him. The president is battling Boko haram, kidnapping, crude oil theft, militancy in Niger Delta, bad roads, unstable power, poor rail network, unemployment, poor health facilities, poor education, almajiris in the north, poverty, politics of re-election in 2015, influence of social media, etc. The plate is FULL already.

Any person or group of people that loves the president and mean well for this country would not advice him to take on the former head of states, atleast for now.

After 2015 elections, by which time some of the problems on the plate now may either have been solved or minimized, the president can confidentally confront NEW battles, including if necessary, the probe of OBJ and co. But for now, it will be a bad decision.

Sincere 9gerian: It is only sensible not to add the battle of former head of states (OBJ, IBB,etc) to the plate now. The current president already has his plate FULL, more than any president before him. The president is battling Boko haram, kidnapping, crude oil theft, militancy in Niger Delta, bad roads, unstable power, poor rail network, unemployment, poor health facilities, poor education, almajiris in the north, poverty, politics of re-election in 2015, influence of social media, etc. The plate is FULL already.

Any person or group of people that loves the president and mean well for this country would not advice him to take on the former head of states, atleast for now.

After 2015 elections, by which time some of the problems on the plate now may either have been solved or minimized, the president can confidentally confront NEW battles, including if necessary, the probe of OBJ and co. But for now, it will be a bad decision.

Sincere 9gerian: It is only sensible not to add the battle of former head of states (OBJ, IBB,etc) to the plate now. The current president already has his plate FULL, more than any president before him. The president is battling Boko haram, kidnapping, crude oil theft, militancy in Niger Delta, bad roads, unstable power, poor rail network, unemployment, poor health facilities, poor education, almajiris in the north, poverty, politics of re-election in 2015, influence of social media, etc. The plate is FULL already.

Any person or group of people that loves the president and mean well for this country would not advice him to take on the former head of states, atleast for now.

After 2015 elections, by which time some of the problems on the plate now may either have been solved or minimized, the president can confidentally confront NEW battles, including if necessary, the probe of OBJ and co. But for now, it will be a bad decision.

Former presidents or head of states are powerful, with foot solders in and out of govt. And coupled with so much ethnic sentiments in this country make it seem as if they'r untouchable. Any govt that decides to take them on must be ready for all the backlash that'll follow

tomakint: Obasanjo is definitely a clown on this one! His display of shameless boldness is laughable. If I may ask what happened to the $16 billion spent on power? Over 200 million units of shares he and his cronies owned in Transcorp? The over N6 billion fraud he called Presidential library? The many allegations levelled against him by El-Rufai (a serving minister in his cabinet)? The Ministry of Petroleum he illegally served as the de facto minister for 8 years and many more. Kai, this Baba Iyabo can lie

Rhino.5dm:
Where dem dey? Doyin Okupe, SincereFool, Slimstupid and other sh!t rolling maggots? Where are the likes of Labaran Maku the rattling snakes?

Let's gooooooooooo thereeeeeeee!!!! The challenge is her......Show your worth by arresting or probe him.

omenka:
Why can't the Scumbag probe him?? He sets up a committee to probe who stole what and sets up a counter committee to basterduze d report of the probe committee. Who is fooling who??

tomakint: Obasanjo is definitely a clown on this one! His display of shameless boldness is laughable. If I may ask what happened to the $16 billion spent on power? Over 200 million units of shares he and his cronies owned in Transcorp? The over N6 billion fraud he called Presidential library? The many allegations levelled against him by El-Rufai (a serving minister in his cabinet)? The Ministry of Petroleum he illegally served as the de facto minister for 8 years and many more. Kai, this Baba Iyabo can lie