Jonathan Replies Obasanjo …Denies Allegations As Untrue

President Goodluck Jonathan (right) being received by some Nigerians on his arrival at the Intercontinental Hotels, Central London, recently.

President Goodluck Jonathan has finally replied former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial letter dated December 2, 2013.

In his reply, dated December 20, 2013, titled: “Re: Before It Is Too Late”, and made public yesterday, President Jonathan said, “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”.

President Jonathan listed some ten reasons why he chose to reply the letter openly, amongst which include “you raised very weighty issues, and since the letter has been made public, Nigerians are expressing legitimate concerns”, adding that “a response from me therefore, becomes very necessary”.

According to him, “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. There have been some setbacks; but certainly there have also been great successes in our efforts to overcome terrorism and insurgency”.

He said that “those who continue to down-play our successes in this regard,..appear to have conveniently forgotten the depths to which security in our country had plunged before now”.

He added that “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.

“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.

On the government’s strategy to win the war on terror, Jonathan said, “this administration, has been implementing a multifaceted strategy against militancy, insurgency and terrorism that includes poverty alleviation, economic development, education and social reforms.

On some of the things the administration has done to curb violent crime in the country, Jonathan said: “We have re-organised 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.

On the allegation that I have placed over 1,000 Nigerians on a political watch list, and that I am training snipers and other militia to assassinate people, Jonathan said, “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,” and there have certainly not been any cases of political assassination since the advent of my leadership.

“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.

On the allegation of promoting corruption, the president said that the scourge “has been with us for many years. 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. 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.

He said, “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”, and assured that “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.

He explained that “the ongoing intrigues and tensions in the PDP and the larger polity are traceable to the unbridled jostling and positioning for personal or group advantage ahead of the 2015 general elections”, adding that the “bitterness, anger, mistrust, fear and deep suspicion” pervading the polity all flow from this singular factor.

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, he added.

“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 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?

On the issue of investors being scared to come to Nigeria, economic dormancy, and stagnation, Jonathan said that “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”, adding that, “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”.

With respect to the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, he assured that the NNPC has not withdrawn from either the Olokola or the Brass LNG projects.

On the Rivers State Water Project, he said that the Federal Government 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, noting that negotiations are ongoing with the AfDB to ensure early conclusion and “signing of the Subsidiary Loan Agreement”.

On the proposed National Conference, he said the conference is aimed at bringing Nigerians together to resolve contentious national issues in a formal setting, adding that “this is a sure way of promoting greater national consensus and unity, and not a recipe for “disunity, confusion and chaos”.

He expressed dissatisfaction with Obasanjo’s allegations of “deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, clannishness, divisiveness and insincerity, amongst other ills,” and assured that although “I never claimed to be all-knowing or infallible, or taken Nigeria or Nigerians for granted, I will continue to do my utmost to steer our ship of state towards the brighter future to which we all aspire”.