"Who the hell is Bamaiyi that I will want to kill?" - Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo

A onetime Head of State and Former civilian President of Nigeria, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo (rtd), had on Sunday, April 9, 2017, said that his government has never for once plotted to kill the former Chief of Army Staff under General Sani Abacha's regime, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi (rtd) as claimed in Bamaiyi' book.

While hosting the members of Correspondents Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun Chapter, at his Abeokuta's residence, the former President stated this in his defence.

Ishaya Bamaiyi

Obasanjo further explained that his administration only demanded Bamaiyi's answer to those that he allegedly murdered, saying that the decision then, was legitimate.

Obasanjo said: “That I wanted to kill him? What of the people he killed? My government did not plot to kill him.

“My government asked him to answer to those that were alleged to have been killed by him and that is legitimate.

“That if there is an allegation that you have done something, that you have committed a crime, then you are arrested, you should answer and that is all.

“Who the hell is he that I would want to kill him? Kill him for what? To achieve what? No!.

“There were allegations, the police and the law enforcement agencies decided to look into the allegations.

“They invited him and they asked him to answer as a result of what was found, so they charged him to court.

“So, it’s now up to him, the investigators as I said, the prosecutors and the judiciary. That’s all.” 

Recall that the press reported that Bamaiyi had recently claimed that his imprisonment for almost nine years was inform of punishment for moving against the choice of Obasanjo as successor to General Abdusalami Abubakar, the then Head of State. Bamaiyi wrote all these allegations in his book, entitled: “Vindication of A General” which was launched last weekend in Abuja.

Bamaiyi also alleged in the book that the imprisonment was to keep him away for fear of coup and that he would topple Obasanjo's government.

He wrote that the moment Obasanjo took over, General Abubakar and some of his colleague advised Obasanjo that if Bamaiyi was left free, he would overthrow the new civilian government.

While having his say on corruption, General Obasanjo said investigations must be thorough, proper and undertaken very well with all seriousness.

He said, “I was reading today when the President (Muhammadu Buhari) said the EFCC should stop losing cases. They lose cases for a number of reasons.

“One, they engage more of outside lawyers. I believe that they need staunch, `ogbologbo’ lawyers inside that will do the work.

“If I am a lawyer and I want the opponent to win a case, what I will file will be `wishy washy’.

“And if I file a `wishy washy’ case, the opponent will see the loophole and he will get out of it. I believe that it is important.

“Secondly, thorough investigation is very important. Now, investigation must be thorough, it must be proper and it must be really taken seriously.

“Third, our judges must be committed in fighting corruption.

“They must be committed to fighting corruption. Because if the investigation is very sound and you have `ogbologbo’ lawyer to handle the case, if you have Salamigate, you know what the answer will be.

“So it is a line: investigation, prosecution and the judiciary. If there is weakness along this line, chances are that corruption cases will continue to be lost."

Read More»

Obasanjo Accuses Church Leaders of encouraging Corruption in Nigeria

*Obasanjo admonishes church leaders to watch the way they are preaching about prosperity

*He talked about the powers given the EFCC and ICPC during his administration

The Former Military Head of State and also a civilian President of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo, has pointed fingers of accusation at Nigerian churches and other religious leaders of corruption.

Gen. Obasanjo said while some house of worship, like many other establishments in the country, have tainted their images, the actions and preaching of some men of God leaves much to be desired.

According to Premium Times, in statements released by the former president while delivering a speech entitled: “The role of the church in the fight against corruption in Nigeria”, during the convention of Victory Life Bible Church International in Abeokuta, Ogun state, he stated: “There is no doubt that all our institutions have been tarnished by the brush of corruption.

“If the Church, as an institution, does not take bribe or get involved in other corrupt practice, the behaviour of some of our men of God leaves much to be desired.

“They not only celebrate but venerate those whose sources of wealth are questionable. They accept gifts (offering) from just anybody without asking questions. This gives the impression that anything is acceptable in the house of God.

“But if Jesus can chase out those buying and selling from the temple with the declaration that, ‘My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves,’ then it is time to stand up against corruption.”

Femi Olajide representing the ex-president, the chapel of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library’s Christ the Glorious King Church, he advised churches to lead the fight against corruption by moderating the way the pass the messages of prosperity to their member.

“Our present day ‘money changers’ and ‘merchants’ must be chased out of the church and put to shame in the larger society.

“While miracles, signs and wonders are the expectations of true believers, such must be based on righteousness. To preach that one can acquire wealth without labour is not only deceitful; it is a call to corruption. It is false preaching and it is sinful.

“We must be careful in believing and celebrating every testimony of miraculous blessing, hence we end up being hoodwinked into celebrating corruption,” he said recalling how he fought corruption while he led the country between 1999 and 2007.

“The government has tried to contain corruption through the enactment of laws and the enforcement of integrity systems, but success has been slow in coming.

“Legislations alone are not enough as they are often breached by those who make them and those who implement them," he said.

Read More»

Obasanjo's biographer killed after returning from 80th birthday celebration

Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba

Obasanjo’s biographer reportedly killed by hoodlums

The former president, Olusegun Obasanjo’s biographer, Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba has lost his life when returning from the former president’s 80th birthday ceremony.

Sahara Reporters said, Onukaba who was a former All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Kogi state was waylaid by hoodlums forcing his car to somersault several times.

The terrible incident happened on Sunday, March 5, 2017 upon returning from Obasanjo’s birthday. It was also reported that his family members have been informed.

Onukaba’s remains has been taken to the Akure State Specialist Hospital.

According a source: “He was trying to escape from some armed robbers on the Akure express-road when his vehicle ran into a wide ditch, somersaulting and he died instantly.”

In his lifetime, he was the last Managing Director of Daily Times of Nigeria under President Olusegun Obasanjo and was one of the 21 contestants of the Kogi State governorship election.

The Punch also reported that, Sen. Bafemi Ojudu said he was allegedly murdered in an encounter with armed robbers.

Read More»

"May the fortunes of Nigeria never sink like that of PDP" - Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo

The Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Friday, prayed that may the fortunes of Nigeria never sink like that of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Speaking at a symposium, in celebration mood to mark his 80th birthday,  Obasanjo prayed that the good fortunes may never sink like that of the platformed (PDP) that took him to the apex position in the country.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who is one of founding member of the PDP but later stopped being a member by tearing his membership card publicly in February 2015, claimed everything was in order when he was there, but the moment he left, the party sunk.

"When all was going well, when I brought Ahmadu Ali as the national chairman of the party, we controlled 30 States out of the 36 states but when Ahmadu and I left, the fortune of the PDP sunk.

"Ali is a man of truth, hardworking but cantankerous. May the fortune of Nigeria never sink like that of the PDP," he stated.

The audience responded by shouting a thunderous “Amen”.

Read More»

Obasanjo is Beacon of National Unity, Peace and Unity - Saraki

The Nigerian Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, on Saturday, has congratulated the former President, Olusegun Obasanjo on clocking the age of 80 and also describing him as a “beacon of national unity, peace and progress.”

Saraki, on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in a tribute to mark General Olusegun Obasanjo’s 80th birthday anniversary, said, on behalf of the 8th Senate, he is delighted to join family, friends and all well wishers of the former president, in felicitating with his entry into the elite club of octogenarians.

He said that aside from serving Nigeria diligently, passionately and conscientiously for many years, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo remains one of the dominant men in national discourse.

Saraki said: “Baba, for several decades, you have been one of the dominant figures in our national discourse.

“On several fronts, you have served the nation diligently, conscientiously and passionately. In fact, you remain a beacon of our national unity, peace and progress.”

“It is for these reasons and many more that we pray to Almighty God to continue to give you good health, great wisdom and the unflinching grace to serve your country, Africa and humanity in general for many more years."

Read More»

Obasanjo condemns South Africa government over xenophobic attack

A former president of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo, has condemned the government of South Africa for the violent anti-immigrant protest and acts of terrorization against Nigerians living in its country.

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo

Obasanjo, speaking on Wednesday, in Abeokuta, condemned the xenophobic attack, while receiving the leadership of the Nigeria Institute of Policy and Strategic Study, Kuru, Jos, who paid him a visit.

He accused the South African government of `laxity and insincerity’ on the issue, saying the leadership of the country has betrayed the whole continent.

He stated: “I will apportion more blame to the leadership of the South African government.

“While the immaturity of the youths can be excused, the leaders ought to realise the importance of unity and brotherliness in Africa.

“While I blame the youths of the country for the attacks, I will blame the leaders of any country more that allows xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans for whatever reason.

He also emphasized the need for African leaders to promote good governance for the progress of the continent.

 “African leaders should also step up measures at developing their countries and improve the living standards of their citizens.

“This will discourage our youths who because of under development and poor living standard seek greener pastures outside their countries.

“I feel disheartened learning that many of our youths perish while crossing the Sahara desert or the Mediterranean Sea,” he said.

Read More»

'President Buhari has not disappointed me from what I know of him' - Obasanjo

General Obasanjo and General Buhari

General Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Nigerian President, in an interview at his residence in Abeokuta, says that President Muhammadu Buhari has not disappointed him since his assumption into the office in 2015.

The former president said that the current president had done his best to move Nigeria forward, especially his anti-corruption campaign and his war against insurgency.

He said: “Whatever anybody says, President Buhari has not disappointed me from what I know of him,’’

“In my book, I have said that Buhari is not strong on the economy and I did not write this to run him down.

“I also used to think that he is not strong in the area of foreign affairs, but I have realised that he has improved very well.

“He has actually done his best in the areas where we know him to be strong."

Obasanjo also urge Nigerians to putting their trust in Buhari and not to give up on Nigeria.

“Whatever you might see as bad in Nigeria, other societies have gone through the same at some period in their history.

“It is not for us to begin to condemn but to begin to join hands together and consider how we can make the best out of our present.

“”Our present situation is a passing phase and we need to be resilient to ensure that we are not consumed by it.

“I will be the first to admit that we have not been where we should have been, but note that we have also been far from where we could have been because it could have been worse.

“It is the height of ingratitude for people to say Nigeria has not achieved anything or much as a nation.

“The generation before mine fought for Nigeria’s independence, that is great.

“My own generation, which is the next, fought to sustain the unity of Nigeria.

“Since 1999, Nigeria had enjoyed 18 years of unbroken democracy.

“We witnessed in 2007 a transition of power from one individual to another in the same party.

“We witnessed in 2015 a transition of power from an individual in the ruling party to another individual in the opposition party.

“All these should not be taken for granted.”

He went further by saying: ” We Nigerians need ourselves and if anyone thinks he does not need another person, good luck to him.

“What I see in all those groups trying to break away is that they want more of the national cake.

“The fact that you want more of the cake means that it is good and you like it, else you will not be asking for more of it.

“I do understand the agitations of the youths in that the increased facilities that now exist as against our own time have not translated to adequate opportunities for them.

“But I think that rather than engage in violence, they should think of how to build on the sacrifices of the generations before them."

General Olusegun Obansanjo will clock 80 on March 5.

Read More»