Ex- Nigeria's President 'Obasanjo's Book, A Misrepresentation Of Facts'

Chairman, Organisation and Mobilisation Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South west, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo's new book, My Watch, was full of misrepresentation and fallacies.

Kashamu however said that instead of the denigrating comments made in the book on personalities, "President Goodluck Jonathan is on a mission to rescue Nigeria and he deserves the support of all."

Kashamu while addressing the media yesterday said Obasanjo's book is full of lies, blackmail and lacks credibility. He noted that Obasanjo's book was out to portray Jonathan's administration in a bad light.


According to Kashamu, "the former president blames everybody else for everything but himself.

"His open criticism of the Jonathan administration, if anything, is drawing more sympathy for it, as one that is making a complete break with the past where impunity and lawlessness reigned. This is so because the issue is not so much about whether his claims are true or not, but because of who is making the claims and his manner of presentation."

Kashamu said the messenger lacks credibility and his message is heavily laced with malice, to say the least.

Obasanjo's eight-year administration was not profitable to Nigerians, he said.

He went on: "Chief Obasanjo's conduct in and out of office does not support his claim of being a law-abiding citizen.

"It is on record that while in office as a democratically elected president, he disobeyed court judgments, even those of the Supreme Court, with reckless abandon."

According to him, Obasanjo's sole agenda is to be in charge of Nigeria till he dies, " to frustrate President Jonathan or any Nigerian leader who does not do his bidding and that is just what he is doing."

On the botched Third Term Agenda, Kashamu faulted the former president's claim that he was not aware of it and that he was not the mastermind.

Kashamu remarked: "What does that mean? He is living in self-denial. Speaking from both sides of the mouth, blowing hot and cold. He was not the mastermind, he was aware but he did nothing. But if it had sailed through, Chief Obasanjo would have been the ultimate beneficiary.

"The incontrovertible fact is that he was the mastermind and did so much to reign in or crush anyone who was opposed to it."

He also appealed to Southwest leaders not to be deceived by Obasanjo's antics.

According to him, "Obasanjo does not like Nigeria at all, for him to have written such a book. Let us be vigilant and not be deceived. If we compare Obasanjo and Jonathan, you will see that there is a difference between the two of them."

The PDP Cchieftain urged Nigerians to support Jonathan, describing him as an agent of change.

He said: "I urge all Nigerians and the good people of the South West to reject hard liners. Though the most insulted President in the whole World, he had remained cool headed.

"President Jonathan has remained focused and unfettered. In spite of all the abuses and needless provocation, the President has said he has No Enemies to Fight. This shows the mindset of the President and his love for all."

He pointed out that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recorded more convictions on corruption in the three and half years of Jonathan's presidency than any other administration.

"There is a higher level of accountability and transparency in the management of our Excess Crude Account, Foreign Reserve as well as oil proceeds unlike what obtained in the past. For the first time in over 20 years, the accounts of the NNPC are being audited at the instance of President Jonathan," Kashamu said.

He added that there was respect for freedom of expression and civil liberties under the Jonathan's administration."



Source: The Guardian