16
Politics
US intervention to stop crude oil theft
ASO ROCK FILE
F
with
Rotimi FADEYI
Obasanjo’s ‘Before it is too late’ letter to Jonathan
T
hat was the title of the letter of appeal that former President Olusegun Obasanjo wrote to President Goodluck Jonathan where he made serious accusations about the conduct in his administration and style of governance of the country. When the letter became public knowledge last week, Jonathan was out of the country and so was Obasanjo, they had both attended the memorial service held for former South African President, Nelson Mandela held at FNB stadium in South Africa where several heads of states and governments were also in attendance. In the 18-page open letter, the former President had accused Jonathan of ineptitude, promoting corruption and pursuing agenda that could destroy the country, among other sundry allegations. The letter has also generated a lot of reactions from Nigerians who believed that both leaders have the responsibility to pursue national interest and ensure the progress, development, peace and unity of the country. The Presidency has said that Jonathon would personally respond to the allegations raised by Obasanjo But in a swift reaction shortly after the letter came into public domin, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati in a press statement described Obasanjo’s letter as unbecoming, self-serving and highly provocative While acknowledging that “it has indeed received the said letter from Chief Obasanjo,” the Presidency said: “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. “The President himself will, at the appropriate time, offer a full personal response to the most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous charges levied against him and his administration by the former Head of State.” But the day after the letter was released to the public and in a move that surprised many, Obasanjo visited Jonathan at the Intercontinental Hotel, Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, where they had a private breakfast together. They were both in Nairobi for the 50th independence anniversary celebration of Kenya which was held at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani, Nairobi. But those who know how to read between the lines are not impressed by the breakfast meeting as a sign that all is well when they go memory lane in the case of former Senate President, late Chuba Okadigbo and former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Audu Ogbe.
F
or a developing economy like Nigeria, the issue of crude oil theft has become a great burden which has affected the revenue of the country to a great extent. In July last year, President Goodluck Jonathan at the opening of the Maritime Sector Presidential Retreat said it was embarrassing that Nigeria is the only country where crude oil is stolen and that those who are involved in the act should hide their heads in shame. He also vowed that his administration was working very hard to tackle the menace of crude oil theft. Also at the retreat, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala disclosed that the country loses over N2 trillion annually in capital flight to foreign countries following the inability of the indigenous ship owners to fully participate in lifting of the over 150 million tons of cargo from the country including crude oil exports. The seriousness of the issue of crude oil theft made Jonathan to seek the assistance of the United States President Barack Obama to tackle the menace. In response to the request, a high powered delegation arrived the country last week and met with Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa. The delegation was led by the United State Assistant Secretary of State for Defence, Sharon Burke, who said she was so delighted to come to Nigeria for first hand assessment of the issues regarding crude oil theft in the country She said: “We are very delighted to
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo flanked by President Goodluck Jonathan and Benin Republic President, Boni Yayi after a worship service at Aso Villa Chapel during one of his visits to the State House.
Bamanga Tukur and the virus in him or those who think that the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur would step down from his exalted position, they had better have a rethink as he has said he would not vacate his office because of pressure from aggrieved governors in the party. Tukur also agreed that he is a virus that has positively affected the fortunes of the party. “They even say that I am a virus. Yes, I agree that I am virus, but a virus for discipline; a virus for good governance, virus for positive change and virus for all things that are good,” Tukur said after meeting with Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa last week Thursday. The seven aggrieved governors had listed the removal of Tukur as one of the
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
conditions for them to remain in the party after they staged a walk out at the convention of the party on August 31 to form a new PDP The governors also known as the G7 include Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano). While Amaechi, Kwakwanso, Nyako, Wammako and Ahmed had already defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, Aliyu and Lamido said they are still in the PDP. The PDP Chairman said that there is no basis for him to resign as he was not bothered by the various accusations leveled against him by both the G7 governors and members of the opposition political party. “Do you resign when you know that you are doing good things?” Tukur asked journalists.
come here on behalf of President Obama. I am here with colleagues from the Department of Energy, the White House and the Department of State and United States Force for Africa. We were told to come and listen, to listen to people and understand the nature of the oil theft, revenue loss and what the problem was and we have had opportunity to speak with great range of people and we have had a great deal of ourselves”. “We will be returning home, digest the information we have gotten, we will review our notes and discussions and then present our findings to Mr. President.” United State Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle said the delegation has been in Delta State and Abuja and also met with top government officials and some oil companies.
Presidential Villa’s visitors 1.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Alex BAdeh 2. Commander, Presidential Air fleet, Air Vice Marshal Uko Ebong 3. United States Assistant Secretary for Defence, Sharon Burke 4. Unites States Ambassador to Nigeria, James Estwistle 5. Chairman, Board of Trustees, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Tony Anenih 6. Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Andrews Yakubu 7. National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur 8. Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Muntasar Abdelsaid 9. Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu 10. Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso 11. Sokoto State governor, Aliyu Wamakko
N40bn for another phase of NASS renovation, upgrading
T
he Federal Executive Council last week approved N40 billion for expansion, upgrading and renovation of existing structures at the National Assembly. During the period of the project, the two chambers of the National Assembly would be shut down for a period of 12 months But there is no cause for worry, according to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, the lawmakers would still be able to perform their legislative duties in the large committee and conference rooms inside the premises of the Assembly complex. The entire project which would last for 40 months is under the national priority projects of the Federal Government and was awarded to Julius Berger. The minister explained that the project was specifically for the construction of Phase III Part III and upgrading of the Senate and the House of Representatives chambers.
According to him, the new project of the National Assembly would include the provision library, budget office, printing press, clinic, restaurants, banquet hall, places of worship, plenary hall (auditorium), TV/radio/ press facilities, fitness room, administrative offices, technical rooms, and meeting rooms. Muhammed also said the upgrading of the two chambers would also ensure the installation of new electronic voting system The Minister of Information and supervising Minister of Defence, Labaran Maku also disclosed that FEC approved a memo brought by Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke for the establishment of a national laboratory in Owerri, Imo State for the testing of petroleum products including crude oil.
MORE POLITICS STORIES ON PAGES 41-44