Obasanjo’s administration not under probe, says presidency

BARELY 48 hours after former President Olusegun Obasanjo said he was not afraid of being probed, the Presidency Monday said that it was not investigating the administration of the former President and never intended to do so.

Reacting to a statement credited to Obasanjo, which challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to probe him (Obasanjo), the Presidency said there was no time it said it was probing ministers that served under Obasanjo.


Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, said: “I believe former President Obasanjo expressed his fears. Mr. President has never said that he was going to probe Ezekwesili or any other minister that served under Obasanjo.

Gulak said that it was even the Jonathan administration that had been consistently probed by the Nationally Assembly.

“This government has always been under serious probe. The National Assembly has been doing their duty in probing this government. Let it be clear that this government has never said that Ezekwesili will be probed,” Gulak stressed.

On the fate of Governor Rotimi Amaechi’s aircraft, Gulak said:“ The fact that you’re (Amaechi) a governor and you fly a private jet doesn’t give you the right to flout the law,” Gulak fired. Speaking further, he said: “There are laws regarding private jets. If you’re going to fly your private jet, do that within the laws of the nation. NCAA has their rules and regulations on flying aircraft. It has nothing to do with the president.”

Gulak debunked claims that the presidency was witch-hunting Amaechi over his perceived political ambition in 2015.  “Mr. president has not in anyway or his aides witch-hunted any governor. If Amaechi has any ambition, he has the right to do that under the law. He’s a member of our great party. We always encourage people to seek for offices.



The adviser declared that President Jonathan would make his decision known in 2014 regarding whether or not he would seek re-election in 2015.

“No minister has any right to campaign for Mr President. I will tell you that we’ve said so before that whether or not he will contest will be unveiled in 2014,” Gulak said.

He also described the ongoing merger by the opposition parties as being dead on arrival. According to him, the key figures involved are strange bedfellows whose personal interest will truncate the party.    “APC will be dead on arrival if it ever arrives. It consists of strange bedfellows. The merger as far as CPC is concerned is how Buhari will win election. So, all the opposition parties are strange bellows and the romance will not last. “All the actors aren’t sincere.

Source: Guardian Newspaper