The
highly publicized letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo to President
Goodluck Jonathan has been the topic for discourse in Nigeria, recently. And
many people have been expecting a reply from President Jonathan, to hear his
own side of the story. Wait no more, this is the highly anticipated reply to
Obasanjo’s letter from President Jonathan.
His
Excellency,
Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR
Agbe
L’Oba House, Quarry Road,
Ibara,
Abeokuta.
RE:
Before It Is Too Late
I
wish to formally acknowledge your letter dated December 2, 2013 and other
previous correspondence similar to it.
You
will recall that all the letters were brought to me by hand. Although both of
us discussed some of the issues in those letters, I had not, before now, seen
the need for any formal reply since, to me, they contained advice from a former
President to a serving President. Obviously, you felt differently because in
your last letter, you complained about my not acknowledging or replying your previous
letters. Continue...
It
is with the greatest possible reluctance that I now write this reply. I am most
uneasy about embarking on this unprecedented and unconventional form of open
communication between me and a former leader of our country because I know that
there are more acceptable and dignified means of doing so.
But
I feel obliged to reply your letter for a number of reasons: one, you formally
requested for a reply and not sending you one will be interpreted as ignoring a
former President.
Secondly,
Nigerians know the role you have played in my political life and given the
unfortunate tone of your letter, clearly, the grapes have gone sour. Therefore, my side of the story also needs to
be told.
The
third reason why I must reply you in writing is that your letter is clearly a
threat to national security as it may deliberately or inadvertently set the
stage for subversion.
The fourth reason for this reply is that you raised very weighty issues, and since the letter has been made public, Nigerians are expressing legitimate concerns. A response from me therefore, becomes very necessary.
The
fifth reason is that this letter may appear in biographies and other books
which political commentators on Nigeria’s contemporary politics may write. It
is only proper for such publications to include my comments on the issues
raised in your letter.
Sixthly,
you are very unique in terms of the governance of this country. You were a
military Head of State for three years and eight months, and an elected
President for eight years. That means you have been the Head of Government of
Nigeria for about twelve years. This must have, presumably, exposed you to a
lot of information. Thus when you make a statement, there is the tendency for
people to take it seriously.
The
seventh reason is that the timing of your letter coincided with other vicious
releases. The Speaker of the House of Representatives spoke of my “body
language” encouraging corruption. A letter written to me by the CBN Governor
alleging that NNPC, within a period of 19 months did not remit the sum of
USD49.8 billion to the federation account, was also deliberately leaked to the
public.
The
eighth reason is that it appears that your letter was designed to incite
Nigerians from other geopolitical zones against me and also calculated to
promote ethnic disharmony. Worse still, your letter was designed to instigate
members of our Party, the PDP, against me.
The
ninth reason is that your letter conveys to me the feeling that landmines have
been laid for me. Therefore, Nigerians need to have my response to the issues
raised before the mines explode.
The
tenth and final reason why my reply is inevitable is that you have written
similar letters and made public comments in reference to all former Presidents
and Heads of Government starting from Alhaji Shehu Shagari and these have
instigated different actions and reactions. The purpose and direction of your
letter is distinctly ominous, and before it is too late, my clarifications on
the issues need to be placed on record.
Let
me now comment on the issues you raised. In commenting I wish to crave your
indulgence to compare what is happening now to what took place before. This, I believe, will enable Nigerians see
things in better perspective because we must know where we are coming from so
as to appreciate where we now are, and to allow us clearly map out where we are
going.
You
raised concerns about the security situation in the country. I assure you that
I am fully aware of the responsibility of government for ensuring the security
of the lives and property of citizens. My Administration is working assiduously
to overcome current national security challenges, the seeds of which were sown
under previous administrations. There
have been some setbacks; but certainly there have also been great successes in
our efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency.
Those
who continue to down-play our successes in this regard, amongst whom you must
now be numbered, appear to have conveniently forgotten the depths to which
security in our country had plunged before now.
At
a stage, almost the entire North-East of Nigeria was under siege by insurgents.
Bombings of churches and public buildings in the North and the federal capital
became an almost weekly occurrence. Our entire national security apparatus
seemed nonplussed and unable to come to grips with the new threat posed by the
berthing of terrorism on our shores.
But
my administration has since brought that very unacceptable situation under
significant control. We have overhauled our entire national security
architecture, improved intelligence gathering, training, funding, logistical
support to our armed forces and security agencies, and security collaboration
with friendly countries with very visible and positive results.
The
scope and impact of terrorist operations have been significantly reduced and
efforts are underway to restore full normalcy to the most affected North
Eastern region and initiate a post-crisis development agenda, including a
special intervention programme to boost the region’s socio-economic progress.
In
doing all this, we have kept our doors open for dialogue with the insurgents
and their supporters through efforts such as the work of the Presidential
Committee on Dialogue and the Peaceful Resolution of the Security Challenges in
the North-East. You also know that the Governor of Borno State provided the items
you mentioned to me as carrots. Having done all this and more, it is
interesting that you still accuse me of not acting on your hardly original
recommendation that the carrot and stick option be deployed to solve the Boko
Haram problem.
Your
suggestion that we are pursuing a “war against violence without understanding
the root causes of the violence and applying solutions to deal with all the
underlying factors” is definitely misplaced because from the onset of this
administration, we have been implementing a multifaceted strategy against
militancy, insurgency and terrorism that includes poverty alleviation, economic
development, education and social reforms.
Even
though basic education is the constitutional responsibility of States, my
administration has, as part of its efforts to address ignorance and poor
education which have been identified as two of the factors responsible for
making some of our youth easily available for use as cannon fodder by
insurgents and terrorists, committed huge funds to the provision of modern
basic education schools for the Almajiri in several Northern States. The
Federal Government under my leadership has also set up nine additional
universities in the Northern States and three in the Southern States in keeping
with my belief that proper education is the surest way of emancipating and
empowering our people.
More
uncharitable persons may even see a touch of sanctimoniousness in your new
belief in the carrot and stick approach to overcoming militancy and insurgency.
You have always referred to how you hit Odi in Bayelsa State to curb militancy
in the Niger Delta. If the invasion of
Odi by the Army was the stick, I did not see the corresponding carrot. I was the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State
then, and as I have always told you, the invasion of Odi did not solve any
militancy problem but, to some extent, escalated it. If it had solved it, late
President Yar’Adua would not have had to come up with the amnesty program. And
while some elements of the problem may still be there, in general, the
situation is reasonably better.
In
terms of general insecurity in the country and particularly the crisis in the
Niger Delta, 2007 was one of the worst periods in our history. You will recall
three incidents that happened in 2007 which seemed to have been orchestrated to
achieve sinister objectives. Here in
Abuja, a petrol tanker loaded with explosives was to be rammed into the INEC
building. But luckily for the country, an electric pole stopped the tanker from
hitting the INEC building. It is clear
that this incident was meant to exploit the general sense of insecurity in the
nation at the time to achieve the aim of stopping the 2007 elections. It is instructive that you, on a number of
occasions, alluded to this fact.
When
that incident failed, an armed group invaded Yenagoa one evening with the
intent to assassinate me. Luckily for
me, they could not. They again attacked
and bombed my country home on a night when I was expected in the village.
Fortunately, as God would have it, I did not make the trip.
I
recall that immediately after both incidents, I got calls expressing the
concern of Abuja. But Baba, you know
that despite the apparent concern of Abuja, no single arrest was ever made. I
was then the Governor of Bayelsa State and the PDP Vice-Presidential candidate.
The security people ordinarily should have unraveled the assassination attempt
on me.
You
also raised the issues of kidnapping, piracy and armed robbery. These are
issues all Nigerians, including me are very concerned about. While we will
continue to do our utmost best to reduce all forms of criminality to the barest
minimum in our country, it is just as well to remind you that the first major
case of kidnapping for ransom took place around 2006. And the Boko Haram crisis
dates back to 2002. Goodluck Jonathan was not the President of the country
then. Also, armed robbery started in this country immediately after the civil
war and since then, it has been a problem to all succeeding governments. For a former Head of Government, who should
know better, to present these problems as if they were creations of the
Jonathan Administration is most uncharitable.
Having
said that, let me remind you of some of the things we have done to curb violent
crime in the country. We have reorganized the Nigerian Police Force and
appointed a more dynamic leadership to oversee its affairs. We have also
improved its manpower levels as well as funding, training and logistical
support.
We
have also increased the surveillance capabilities of the Police and provided
its air-wing with thrice the number of helicopters it had before the inception
of the present administration. The National Civil Defence and Security Corps
has been armed to make it a much more effective ally of the police and other
security agencies in the war against violent crime. At both domestic and
international levels, we are doing everything possible to curb the
proliferation of the small arms and light weapons with which armed robberies,
kidnappings and piracy are perpetrated. We have also enhanced security at our
borders to curb cross-border crimes.
We are aggressively addressing the challenge
of crude oil theft in collaboration with the state Governors. In addition, the
Federal Government has engaged the British and US governments for their support
in the tracking of the proceeds from the purchase of stolen crude. Similarly, a
regional Gulf of Guinea security strategy has been initiated to curb crude oil
theft and piracy.
Perhaps
the most invidious accusation in your letter is the allegation that I have
placed over one thousand Nigerians on a political watch list, and that I am
training snipers and other militia to assassinate people. Baba, I don’t know
where you got that from but you do me grave injustice in not only lending
credence to such baseless rumours, but also publicizing it. You mentioned God
seventeen times in your letter. Can you as a Christian hold the Bible and say
that you truly believe this allegation?
The
allegation of training snipers to assassinate political opponents is
particularly incomprehensible to me. Since I started my political career as a
Deputy Governor, I have never been associated with any form of political
violence. I have been a President for over three years now, with a lot of
challenges and opposition mainly from the high and mighty. There have certainly
been cases of political assassination since the advent of our Fourth Republic,
but as you well know, none of them occurred under my leadership.
Regarding
the over one thousand people you say are on a political watch list, I urge you
to kindly tell Nigerians who they are and what agencies of government are
“watching” them. Your allegation that I am using security operatives to harass
people is also baseless. Nigerians are waiting for your evidence of proof. That
was an accusation made against previous administrations, including yours, but
it is certainly not my style and will never be. Again, if you insist on the
spurious claim that some of your relatives and friends are being harassed, I
urge you to name them and tell Nigerians what agencies of my administration are
harassing them.
I
also find it difficult to believe that you will accuse me of assisting
murderers, or assigning a presidential delegation to welcome a murderer. This
is a most unconscionable and untrue allegation. It is incumbent on me to remind
you that I am fully conscious of the dictates of my responsibilities to God and
our dear nation. It is my hope that devious elements will not take advantage of
your baseless allegation to engage in brazen and wanton assassination of high
profile politicians as before, hiding under the alibi your “open letter” has
provided for them.
Nevertheless,
I have directed the security agencies and requested the National Human Rights
Commission to carry out a thorough investigation of these criminal allegations
and make their findings public.
That
corruption is an issue in Nigeria is indisputable. It has been with us for many years. You will
recall that your kinsman, the renowned afro-beat maestro, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti
famously sang about it during your first stint as Head of State. Sonny Okosun
also sang about corruption. And as you may recall, a number of Army Generals
were to be retired because of corruption before the Dimka coup. Also, the late General Murtala Mohammed
himself wanted to retire some top people in his cabinet on corruption-related
issues before he was assassinated. Even
in this Fourth Republic, the Siemens and Halliburton scandals are well known.
The
seed of corruption in this country was planted a long time ago, but we are
doing all that we can to drastically reduce its debilitating effects on
national development and progress. I have been strengthening the institutions
established to fight corruption. I will not shield any government official or
private individual involved in corruption, but I must follow due process in all
that I do. And whenever clear cases of corruption or fraud have been
established, my administration has always taken prompt action in keeping with
the dictates of extant laws and procedures. You cannot claim to be unaware of
the fact that several highly placed persons in our country, including sons of
some of our party leaders are currently facing trial for their involvement in the
celebrated subsidy scam affair. I can hardly be blamed if the wheels of justice
still grind very slowly in our country, but we are doing our best to support
and encourage the judiciary to quicken the pace of adjudication in cases of
corruption.
Baba,
I am amazed that with all the knowledge garnered from your many years at the
highest level of governance in our country, you could still believe the
spurious allegation contained in a letter written to me by the Governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and surreptitiously obtained by you, alleging
that USD49.8 billion, a sum equal to our entire national budget for two years,
is “unaccounted for” by the NNPC. Since, as President, you also served for many
years as Minister of Petroleum Resources, you very well know the workings of
the corporation. It is therefore intriguing that you have made such an
assertion. You made a lot of insinuations about oil theft, shady dealings at
the NNPC and the NNPC not remitting the full proceeds of oil sales to the of CBN.
Now that the main source of the allegations which you rehashed has publicly
stated that he was “misconstrued”, perhaps you will find it in your heart to
apologize for misleading unwary Nigerians and impugning the integrity of my
administration on that score.
Your
claim of “Atlantic Oil loading about 130, 000 barrels sold by Shell and managed
on behalf of NPDC with no sale proceeds paid into the NPDC account” is also
disjointed and baseless because no such arrangement as you described exists
between Atlantic Oil and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company. NPDC
currently produces about 138, 000 barrels of oil per day from over 7 producing
assets. The Crude Oil Marketing Division (COMD) of the NNPC markets all of this
production on behalf of NPDC with proceeds paid into NPDC account.
I
am really shocked that with all avenues open to you as a former Head of State
for the verification of any information you have received about state affairs,
you chose to go public with allegations of “high corruption” without offering a
shred of supporting evidence. One of your political “sons” similarly alleged
recently that he told me of a minister who received a bribe of $250 Million
from an oil company and I did nothing about it. He may have been playing from a
shared script, but we have not heard from him again since he was challenged to
name the minister involved and provide the evidence to back his claim. I urge you, in the same vein, to furnish me
with the names, facts and figures of a single verifiable case of the “high
corruption” which you say stinks all around my administration and see whether
the corrective action you advocate does not follow promptly. And while you are
at it, you may also wish to tell Nigerians the true story of questionable
waivers of signature bonuses between 2000 and 2007.
While,
by the Grace of God Almighty, I am the first President from a minority group, I
am never unmindful of the fact that I was elected leader of the whole of
Nigeria and I have always acted in the best interest of all Nigerians. You
referred to the divisive actions and inflammatory utterances of some
individuals from the South-South and asserted that I have done nothing to call
them to order or distance myself from their ethnic chauvinism. Again that is
very untrue. I am as committed to the unity of this country as any patriot can
be and I have publicly declared on many occasions that no person who threatens
other Nigerians or parts of the country is acting on my behalf.
It
is very regrettable that in your letter, you seem to place sole responsibility
for the ongoing intrigues and tensions in the PDP at my doorstep, and going on
from that position, you direct all your appeals for a resolution at me. Baba,
let us all be truthful to ourselves, God and posterity. At the heart of all the
current troubles in our party and the larger polity is the unbridled jostling
and positioning for personal or group advantage ahead of the 2015 general
elections. The “bitterness, anger, mistrust, fear and deep suspicion” you wrote
about all flow from this singular factor.
It
is indeed very unfortunate that the seeming crisis in the party was instigated
by a few senior members of the party, including you. But, as leader of the
party, I will continue to do my best to unite it so that we can move forward
with strength and unity of purpose. The PDP has always recovered from previous
crises with renewed vigour and vitality. I am very optimistic that that will be
the case again this time. The PDP will overcome any temporary setback, remain a
strong party and even grow stronger.
Instigating
people to cause problems and disaffection within the party is something that
you are certainly familiar with. You will recall that founding fathers of the
Party were frustrated out of the Party at a time. Late Chief Sunday Awoniyi was pushed out,
Late Chief Solomon Lar left and later came back, Chief Audu Ogbeh and Chief Tom
Ikimi also left. Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo left and later came back. In
2005/2006, link-men were sent to take over party structures from PDP Governors
in an unveiled attempt to undermine the state governors. In spite of that, the
Governors did not leave the Party because nobody instigated and encouraged them
to do so.
The
charge that I was involved in anti-party activities in governorship elections
in Edo, Ondo, Lagos, and Anambra States is also very unfortunate. I relate with
all Governors irrespective of political party affiliation but I have not worked
against the interest of the PDP. What I
have not done is to influence the electoral process to favour our Party. You
were definitely never so inclined, since you openly boasted in your letter of
how you supported Alhaji Shehu Shagari against Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief
Nnamdi Azikiwe and others in the 1979 presidential elections while serving as a
military Head of State. You and I clearly differ in this regard, because as the
President of Nigeria, I believe it is my duty and responsibility to create a
level playing field for all parties and all candidates.
Recalling
how the PDP lost in states where we were very strong in 2003 and 2007 such as
Edo, Ondo, Imo, Bauchi, Anambra, and Borno, longstanding members of our great
party with good memory will also consider the charge of anti-party activities
you made against me as misdirected and hugely hypocritical. It certainly was not
Goodluck Jonathan’s “personal ambition or selfish interest” that caused the PDP
to lose the governorship of Ogun State and all its senatorial seats in the last
general elections.
You
quoted me as saying that I have not told anybody that I will seek another term
in office in 2015. You and your ambitious acolytes within the party have
clearly decided to act on your conclusion that “only a fool will believe that
statement” and embark on a virulent campaign to harass me out of an undeclared
candidature for the 2015 presidential elections so as to pave the way for a
successor anointed by you.
You
will recall that you serially advised me that we should refrain from discussing
the 2015 general elections for now so as not to distract elected public officials
from urgent task of governance. While you have apparently moved away from that
position, I am still of the considered opinion that it would have been best for
us to do all that is necessary to refrain from heating up the polity at this
time. Accordingly, I have already informed Nigerians that I will only speak on
whether or not I will seek a second term when it is time for such declarations.
Your claims about discussions I had with you, Governor Gabriel Suswam and
others are wrong, but in keeping with my declared stance, I will reserve
further comments until the appropriate time.
Your
allegation that I asked half a dozen African Presidents to speak to you about
my alleged ambition for 2015, is also untrue.
I have never requested any African President to discuss with you on my
behalf. In our discussion, I mentioned
to you that four Presidents told me that they were concerned about the
political situation in Nigeria and intended to talk to you about it. So far, only three of them have confirmed to
me that they have had any discussion with you. If I made such a request, why
would I deny it?
The
issue of Buruji Kashamu is one of those lies that should not be associated with
a former President. The allegation that
I am imposing Kashamu on the South-West is most unfortunate and
regrettable. I do not even impose Party
officials in my home state of Bayelsa and there is no zone in this country
where I have imposed officials. So why
would I do so in the South West? Baba,
in the light of Buruji’s detailed public response to your “open letter”, it
will be charitable for you to render an apology to Nigerians and I.
On
the issue of investors being scared to come to Nigeria, economic dormancy, and
stagnation, I will just refer you to FDI statistics from 2000 to 2013. Within
the last three years, Nigeria has emerged as the preferred destination for
investments in Africa, driven by successful government policies to attract
foreign investors. For the second year running, the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Investments (UNCTAD) has ranked Nigeria as the number one
destination for investments in Africa, and as having the fourth highest returns
in the world.
Today,
Nigeria is holding 18 percent of all foreign investments in Africa and 60
percent of all foreign investments in the ECOWAS Sub-Region. Kindly note also
that in the seven years between 2000 and 2007 when you were President, Nigeria
attracted a total of $24.9 Billion in FDI.
As a result of our efforts which you disparage, the country has seen an
FDI inflow of $25.7 Billion in just three years which is more than double the
FDI that has gone to the second highest African destination. We have also
maintained an annual national economic growth rate of close to seven per cent
since the inception of this administration. What then, is the justification for
your allegation of scared investors and economic dormancy?
Although
it was not emphasized in your letter of December 2, 2013, you also conveyed, in
previous correspondence, the impression that you were ignorant of the very
notable achievements of my administration in the area of foreign relations. It
is on record that under my leadership, Nigeria has played a key role in
resolving the conflicts in Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea Bissau and
others.
The
unproductive rivalry that existed between Nigeria and some ECOWAS countries has
also been ended under my watch and Nigeria now has better relations with all
the ECOWAS countries. At the African
Union, we now have a Commissioner at the AU Commission after being without one
for so long. We were in the United Nations Security Council for the 2010/2011
Session and we have been voted in again for the 2014/2015 Session. From
independence to 2010, we were in the U.N. Security Council only three times but
from 2010 to 2015, we will be there two times.
This
did not happen by chance. My
Administration worked hard for it and we continue to maintain the best possible
relations with all centres of global political and economic power. I find it
hard therefore, to believe your assertions of untoward concern in the
international community over the state of governance in Nigeria
With
respect to the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, you may have forgotten that
though you started these projects, Final Investment Decisions were never
reached. For your information, NNPC has
not withdrawn from either the Olokola or the Brass LNG projects.
On
the Rivers State Water Project, you were misled by your informant. The Federal
Government under my watch has never directed or instructed the Africa
Development Bank to put on hold any project to be executed in Rivers state or
any other State within the Federation. The Rivers Water Project was not
originally in the borrowing plan but it was included in April 2013 and
appraised in May. Negotiations are ongoing with the AfDB. I have no doubt that you are familiar with
the entire process that prefaces the signing of a Subsidiary Loan Agreement as
in this instance.
Let me assure you and all Nigerians that I do
not engage in negative political actions and will never, as President, oppress
the people of a State or deprive them of much needed public services as a
result of political disagreement
I
have noted your comments on the proposed National Conference. Contrary to the
insinuation in your letter, the proposed conference is aimed at bringing
Nigerians together to resolve contentious national issues in a formal setting.
This is a sure way of promoting greater national consensus and unity, and not a
recipe for “disunity, confusion and chaos” as you alleged in your letter.
Having
twice held the high office of President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I trust that you will understand that I
cannot possibly find the time to offer a line-by-line response to all the
accusations and allegations made in your letter while dealing with other
pressing demands of office and more urgent affairs of state.
I
have tried, however, to respond to only the most serious of the charges which
question my sincerity, personal honour, and commitment to the oath which I have
sworn, to always uphold and protect the interests of all Nigerians, and promote
their well-being.
In
closing, let me state that you have done me grave injustice with your public
letter in which you wrongfully accused me of deceit, deception, dishonesty,
incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, amongst other ills.
I
have not, myself, ever claimed to be all-knowing or infallible, but I have
never taken Nigeria or Nigerians for granted as you implied, and I will
continue to do my utmost to steer our ship of state towards the brighter future
to which we all aspire.
Please
accept the assurances of my highest consideration and warm regards.
GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN
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