Obasanjo Plots to Head interim Govt - Reports claim

Presidency has faulted recent statements made by
former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo,
about incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Obasanjo, during an interview with Channels
Television, had alleged that the postponement of the
election by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) was part of the grand plans by
President Goodluck Jonathan to win the election by
all means.

The former President made the statement on
Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, while
speaking on the state of the nation and giving his
opinion on the election postponement.
Obasanjo accused the President of forcing the
postponement of the elections on INEC.

However, a statement by the Special Adviser to the
President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati,
on Saturday, made the Government’s position
known on the issues raised by Obasanjo.

Full text of the statement as published on Reuben
Abati’s website:

OBASANJO’S UNWARRANTED ATTACK ON
PRESIDENT JONATHAN IS ODIOUS, REPUGNANT
AND SELF-SERVING
We find the false claims and allegations reportedly
made against President Goodluck Jonathan by Chief
Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday in Abeokuta very
odious and repugnant.
As we have had cause to say before, it is most
regrettable indeed that a man like Chief Obasanjo,
who should know better, chooses to repeatedly,
wantonly, and maliciously impugn the integrity of a
sitting President of his country for the primary
purpose of self-promotion.

It is obvious from Chief Obasanjo’s serial
vituperations against President Jonathan who is
doing his best to positively transform Nigeria for the
benefit of all of its people that he has willfully
chosen to close his eyes to the present
administration’s good works and intentions. For
reasons best known to him, Chief Obasanjo has set
his mind on regime change by fair or foul means.
Otherwise, it would be completely senseless,
irrational and out of place for Chief Obasanjo, who
still claims to belong to the same party as the
President, to accuse President Jonathan of plotting
to win the rescheduled presidential elections by
“hook or crook” and planning to plunge the nation
into crisis if he loses the election.

For the record, President Jonathan has no such
intention and will continue to give the greatest
possible support to the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant
federal agencies to ensure that the rescheduled
elections are successfully conducted.
Indeed, it is not President Jonathan who remains
faithful to his oath of office who is trying to plunge
Nigeria into crisis, but Chief Obasanjo who is
scheming to plunge the country into chaos in pursuit
of a selfish and highly egocentric agenda.

Chief Obasanjo’s plot with others within and outside
the country to thwart the general elections and foist
an unconstitutional Interim National Government,
which he hopes to head on the nation is well known
to us, but by the Grace of God Almighty, his odious
plan to return to power through the back door will
fail woefully.
We know very well that it is in pursuit of this
nefarious plot that the former President continues to
sow the seeds of discord and crises in the polity by
purporting to remain in the ruling party while openly
consorting with the opposition, endorsing its
candidates and predicting victory for opposition
candidates in a manner most unbecoming of a
supposed elder statesman.

Thankfully, the vast majority of Nigerians who are
patriotic and right-thinking cannot be fooled by Chief
Obasanjo’s antics.
We urge them to be assured that President
Jonathan’s commitment to democracy in all its
ramifications remains constant and that he will
never be party to the use of any unlawful means to
remain in office or gain political advantage over his
opponents. The President stands by his
commitment, which he reaffirmed on national
television last Wednesday that on his watch, all
elections in Nigeria, will be free, fair and credible,
and that all certified election results will be
respected.

As President Jonathan has also assured the nation,
the rescheduling of the general elections was in the
best interest of the nation and was never driven by
any ulterior motive on the part of government as
Chief Obasanjo and others have alleged. President
Jonathan will continue to put his best efforts into
giving Nigeria quality leadership and will not be
distracted from his purpose by unwarranted and
needless criticism by persons who ought to know
better.

The President also continues to trust in the good
judgment of Nigerians and to believe that in
appreciation of his sincere efforts to move the
country forward over the past four years, they will
re-elect him for a second term on March 28, 2015
with a mandate to pursue his agenda for national
transformation to a successful conclusion.”
(Source: Channelstv)