Oshiomhole tackles Obasanjo …Says ex-president must stay alive to account for $16bn spent on power
…Says ex-president must stay alive to account for $16bn spent on power
…Wants Buhari to ask for immediate refund
…Urges him to exhibit same courage on Abiola in recovering the money
The newly elected National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole has tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his claim that there is a threat to his life by Buhari administration declaring that nobody wishes him dead.
Rather, he said that Obasanjo should stay alive so that he can account for a whooping $16 billion allegedly spent on power while he held sway as president without commensurate result.
Speaking shortly after the former National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun handed over to him; Oshiomhole said Obasanjo should be asked to pay back the money since it was not spent on improving the nation’s power situation that it was meant for.
According to him, President Buhari did well by calling out Obasanjo over the alleged expenditure and should go a step further to ensure that the former president returns the money if there is no explanation for what it was used for.
“So, $16 billion spent, the more dollars they spent, the more darkness the people suffered. Now the questions I had in my mind were, maybe because the president has not yet proceeded to now ask the follow-up questions.
“Since we don’t find the power, then, you must bring the $16 billion that you spent. If he doesn’t do that, then the accusations of limited anti-corruption may begin to have some currency.
“So, to assist PDP to overcome this distinction, our president needs to do the needful. After all, it is already on record what other presidents didn’t do, with regards to the issue of MKO Abiola, and the criminal manner by which the election was nullified and people pretended that, that was never an issue, the president showed courage.
“That same courage should not fail him, so that he can proceed to recover the $16 billion back into the treasury from the man who superintended over the spending of that money”, Oshiomhole declared.
It would be recalled that President Buhari had some time ago criticised previous Nigerian administrations for “lack of imagination” and accused the government of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who was president from 1999 to 2007, of spending over $16 billion on power without proportionate results.
The former president had however denied that his administration expended such money on power accusing President Buhari of ignorance on the matter and said he had already been cleared of any wrongdoing by an anti-graft agency.
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Reacting to Obasanjo’s allegation that his life was in danger and that there was a plan to send him to jail, Oshiomole said “the man said they want to kill him. No! To kill is to prevent the investigation. He must be alive to account. That is a typical distraction, so, I think all of us should be ready to do anything we can to help Nigerians not to forget in a hurry.”
Speaking further, Oshiomhole applauded his predecessor; John Odigie-Oyegun led administration of the party and promised to build on it
NOshiomhole tackles Obasanjo …Says ex-president must stay alive to account for $16bn spent on power
…Says ex-president must stay alive to account for $16bn spent on power
…Wants Buhari to ask for immediate refund
…Urges him to exhibit same courage on Abiola in recovering the money
The newly elected National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Adams Oshiomhole has tackled former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his claim that there is a threat to his life by Buhari administration declaring that nobody wishes him dead.
Rather, he said that Obasanjo should stay alive so that he can account for a whooping $16 billion allegedly spent on power while he held sway as president without commensurate result.
Speaking shortly after the former National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun handed over to him; Oshiomhole said Obasanjo should be asked to pay back the money since it was not spent on improving the nation’s power situation that it was meant for.
According to him, President Buhari did well by calling out Obasanjo over the alleged expenditure and should go a step further to ensure that the former president returns the money if there is no explanation for what it was used for.
“So, $16 billion spent, the more dollars they spent, the more darkness the people suffered. Now the questions I had in my mind were, maybe because the president has not yet proceeded to now ask the follow-up questions.
“Since we don’t find the power, then, you must bring the $16 billion that you spent. If he doesn’t do that, then the accusations of limited anti-corruption may begin to have some currency.
“So, to assist PDP to overcome this distinction, our president needs to do the needful. After all, it is already on record what other presidents didn’t do, with regards to the issue of MKO Abiola, and the criminal manner by which the election was nullified and people pretended that, that was never an issue, the president showed courage.
“That same courage should not fail him, so that he can proceed to recover the $16 billion back into the treasury from the man who superintended over the spending of that money”, Oshiomhole declared.
It would be recalled that President Buhari had some time ago criticised previous Nigerian administrations for “lack of imagination” and accused the government of former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who was president from 1999 to 2007, of spending over $16 billion on power without proportionate results.
The former president had however denied that his administration expended such money on power accusing President Buhari of ignorance on the matter and said he had already been cleared of any wrongdoing by an anti-graft agency.
Reacting to Obasanjo’s allegation that his life was in danger and that there was a plan to send him to jail, Oshiomole said “the man said they want to kill him. No! To kill is to prevent the investigation. He must be alive to account. That is a typical distraction, so, I think all of us should be ready to do anything we can to help Nigerians not to forget in a hurry.”
Speaking further, Oshiomhole applauded his predecessor; John Odigie-Oyegun led administration of the party and promised to build on the foundation it laid.
He sought the permission of the former chairman to also seek advice and counsel whenever there was the need, saying Odigie-Oyegun is an elder whose wisdom would help him move the party forward.
Observing that some members of his NWC also served under Odigie-Oyegun, the new chairman said his leadership is lucky to have them as it will ensure continuity and sought proper records and documents to ensure smooth takeover and better continuity stressing that his leadership had come in to build on what they met and prepare the party for the 2019 general elections.
“We are all very proud of what you have accomplished and we will try very hard to build on what you have put in place. We will do everything possible to support the federal legislature and executive”, he added.
