A civil rights organisation under the auspices of Vanguards of Nigeria’s Democracy, on Saturday raised the alarm over alleged moves by President Muhammadu Buhari to “investigate, malign and imprison” ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on trumped-up charges.
The spokesperson of VND, Mr. Osaghae Ogiemudia, in a statement in Abuja, accused the President and his All Progressives Congress-led administration of anti-Niger Delta tendencies.
It claimed that anti-Niger Delta and anti-Ijaw posturing of the APC-led government of Buhari has been demonstrated in several ways.
While referring to the ongoing controversy between a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole over Excess Crude Account and allegations as a ploy to get at former President Goodluck Jonathan, the group said, “We the members of the Vanguards of Nigeria’s Democracy, are aware of some clandestine moves made by the APC-led government to probe, investigate, malign and imprison ex-President Jonathan. We are already aware of the trumped-up charges the APC government is levelling against a man who has diligently served the Nigerian state at the highest level of government.
“The APC led government should take notice that the appointments made so far are skewed in favour of the North, as no Ijaw man has been appointed. While an Ijaw President did not discriminate in appointment, President Buhari is implementing a Northern agenda thorough some of the appointments.”
According to him, Buhari unilaterally cancelled the waterway surveillance and security contract awarded to the Delta-born Ijaw businessman, Mr. Government Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo.)
The group also criticised the sacking of the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi and described it as “one of the principal appointments given to the Ijaws of Bayelsa State.”
But the Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Mr. Femi Adesina, described the allegation by the group as mere speculation.
Adesina asked why people would dwell on speculations when nothing concrete has been established against former President Jonathan.
He said, “All these are speculations and I cannot react to speculations because there is nothing concrete yet against the former President.”
Buhari wants to imprison Jonathan – Group
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Femi , does it worth it reacting to this faceless hired group of persons ? I think the bast thing is to ignore the allegations which cannot be substantiated .
It may seem fair and even sentimental to expect PMB to probe every government before his. But in practical terms, how easy would that be given the time on his hands, the time lapse and the expectations from Nigerians for a quick result? Me thinks that every government has the duty to probe or refuse to probe its predicessor. If former president Goodluck Jonathan failed or refused to look into the books of his former bosses – Obasanjo and Ya’dua – that was his own reading of the situation; it can also be inferred to mean a cover-up for those two. If that be the case, that is, if he actually did that to cover up for them at the expense of Nigerians, then he did not do well; that means, he supported corruption. But how far can we continue as a nation if every government comes and sweeps the ills of the former government under the carpets for one personal/political/selfish reason or the other? I would sincerely encourage Buhari to go ahead and collect our looted funds, probe whoever he can probe, and thereafter lay the foundation for PROBE as a fundamental tool of transparent governance in the country. By so doing, after this governemnt it would have been established that another government can, effectively look into PMB’s books to confirm or refute his claims to transparency…and so it would continue until Nigeria gets better. No doubt, PMB’s steps (appointments, etc) so far may be giving him away as habouring some anti-south sentiments, but let us allow him to conclude his plans and strategies and see where it lands all us especially in the war against looting of our common wealth. That for me is the key thing.