"Some Of The Kidnapped Chibok Schoolgirls Will Never Return, Some Will Give Birth In Sambisa Forest" - Obasanjo Drops Bombshell

 Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has expressed fears that the more than 200 abducted schoolgirls, who were kidnapped over two months ago in Chibok while at school, might never return again. That instead, the terror group would release some of the girls that might be pregnant and finding it difficult to cater for their babies in the forest.

 Punch reports that Obasanjo during an interview on the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation said:

“I believe that some of them will never return. We will still be hearing about them many years from now. Some will give birth, but if they cannot take care of them in the forest, they may be released.”

Obasanjo, during the interview, also revealed that he has a communication link with Boko Haram, that he could reach out to the violent Islamic sect over the abduction of the schoolgirls, but regretted that the Federal Government have not giving him their approval. Source

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Goodluck Jonathan Has Failed Many People, Not Just Me –OBJ

When your godfather start telling you the same things that millions of Nigeria are saying - that you have not lived up to expectations as President - then you must check yourself immediately and ignore the sycophants around you who will always tell you what is sweet to your ears so they can continue to shop with you.

This is the situation President Goodluck Jonathan is, as his benefactor, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, who is known for saying his mind no matter who is affected, has declared that Jonathan is failing Nigerians.

Speaking on the State of the Nation on a TV interview, Obasanjo said Mr Jonathan lived in self-denial about the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls for more than two weeks. He insisted that action is very unfortunate.‬‪

Obasanjo said: "The president did not believe that those girls were abducted for almost 18 days. If the president got the information within 12hours of the act and he reacted immediately, I believe those girls would have been rescued within 24 hours, maximum 48 hours."

‬He added that the president’s initial action was to ask: "Is this true, or is it a ploy by people who don’t want me to be president again?"

The respected former President considered this slow reaction from Jonathan as the “most unfortunate aspect of the whole issue” and the reason why those innocent girls are still with Boko Haram after over 40 days.‬

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Obasanjo concluded his assessment of Jonathan's performance in office with this statement:‬ ‪“I don’t believe he has performed to the expectations of many Nigerians, not just me.

culled

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Obasanjo Is Part Of Boko Haram Problem-Fawehinmi Declares

Son of late legal icon, Gani Fawehinmi, Muhammed Fawehinmi, has blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for being part of the Boko Haram problem faced in the country today.The junior Fawehinmi made this disclosure today, 31 May, 2014 while speaking on a live programme on LTV 8, Bimbo and Shola Connect.

Mr Fawehinmi stated that Obasanjo had during his administration ignored a warning issued by the Russian military intelligence over  the growth of some unknown fundamentalist building up in Sambisa Forest.He however added that the situation has deteriorated today with the abduction of more than 276 schoolgirls abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents at the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State on 14 April, 2014.

Mr Fawehinmi advised the Nigerian government led President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the safety of the girls by negotiating with the terrorists in order to save their lives.“what matters most as of now is the safety of the missing girls. The Jonathan led government can release the prisoners as requested by Boko haram just to get the girls and then adopt other military measures in fighting the sect later,” he concluded.

According to report, Obasanjo met with people close to Boko Haram at his farm in Otta, Ogun State, last weekend in an attempt to find a solution to bring back the girls to their homes safely.

 The meeting which was attended by relatives of some senior Boko Haram fighters as well as intermediaries focused on how to free the girls through negotiation.

Meanwhile, the federal government has insisted that they are not ready to negotiate with the Boko Haram militants on the kidnapped schoolgirls.

culled

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FINALLY! Obasanjo Speaks On Abducted Chibok Girls

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday condemned the abduction of more than 200 schoolgirls in Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State. Obasanjo made the condemnation during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Jigawa State Government to adopt a junior secondary school and a primary school in Kudai, Dutse. 

He appealed to the abductors to release them without any condition because the girls were innocent and should not be made to suffer unreasonably. “Whatever the grievances, objectives and anger of this group of people who are behind this abduction, they should not have acted on these innocent girls. “We condemn their action and also appeal to them to release these girls unconditionally because they have important contributions for the future of this country,” Obasanjo said.

 The former president sympathised with the parents of the girls but added that people should not be discouraged to send their female children to school. He said Nigerians should see what happened as a stumble and not a fall and be challenged to give their girls good education. Obasanjo prayed and expressed the hope that the girls would be found and delivered to their parents.

 He said that his visit to the state was to fulfil a promise he made during Jigawa Economic Summit to adopt a school and transform it to a model on the African continent. Obasanjo said that the gesture was to complement the efforts of Gov. Sule Lamido in promoting girl-child education in the state.

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Obasanjo Is Nigeria’s Worst Leader – Uzor Kalu

The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Kalu, on Tuesday said former President Olusegun Obasanjo remained the worst leader Nigeria had had since its independence in 1960. Kalu spoke at an annual lecture organised by the Department of Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. 

He presented the keynote address, entitled ‘Youth Empowerment and Good Governance: Veritable Tools for Economic Development’. The former Abia State governor said the closure of Hallmark Bank, where he (Kalu) had significant stake and Slok Air, were efforts deployed by Obasanjo to deal with him. 

He said the former President’s action against Hallmark Bank and Slok Air slowed down the employment opportunities he (Kalu) would have created for Nigerians. Kalu, however, enjoined the federal and state governments to initiate entrepreneurship programmes that would help achieve economic development. The former governor said to achieve meaningful development, governments at all levels must empower the youths. He observed that economic development was a major criterion for national development. 

”If there is no economic stability in the world, there will be no political stability,” Kalu said. He added, ”Economic development can only be possible when youth empowerment and good governance are firmly rooted, and the true measure of good governance is the ability of a government to realise people’s human rights and deliver sustainable and equitable development. ”

As long as there is corruption, economic development may remain a mirage. There is great need for all of us, especially the government to work hard and work together to eliminate poverty. ”I urge the federal and state governments to make good use of the potentials found in the economic departments in our country because it is the department that should be the centre of research for government at various levels.”

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Pres Jonathan Throws Another Punch At Ex Pres OBJ

After replying Ex president Obasanjo letter, President GEJ has been cheered by the general public because he replied in a very intelligent and respectful manner while making known the facts that he inherited all Nigeria's problem from past administration and didn't create any for Nigerians.

During a Christmas Day service held at the Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja on Christmas Day, President Jonathan said Nigeria does not belong to any politician or group politicians. 

“We politicians that think we own this country and are already thinking about next election; we are doing what we ought not to do; making statement we ought not to make and writing letters we are supposed not to write.

“This  country belongs to our statesmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, our men, our women, our youths. Nigeria does not belong to any politician or group of politicians. So,  we will  continue to urge the clergymen  to pray for this country.” Jonathan said

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Obasanjo’s Daughter Paid To Write Open Letter To Her Father; 'Angry OBJ Calls Vanguard Idiot'

 Former President Olusegun Obasanjo is not a happy man right now.

When contacted recently by Vanguard News, an angry Obasanjo reportedly called the publisher of the 11-page open letter from his daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo a bloody idiot.

Read the heated argument that ensued between Obasanjo and Vanguard below:

Vanguard: Sir, we tried reaching you all through yesterday, to no avail, over the letter written by your daughter, Iyabo, to you.

Olusegun Obasanjo: You are a bloody idiot, you have published the paper and you are now looking for me, you are an idiot, don’t call me again. When Iyabo finishes you in court…. (hangs up).

This is coming hours after Iyabo Obasanjo changed her mind despite pleas from family members and reveal herself as the mind behind the letter calling her biological father a liar, manipulator, wife beater and an hypocrite.

Who Paid Iyabo Obasanjo To Write Open Letter To Her Father?

A political insider said Iyabo Obasanjo was paid to authorize the 11-page letter of insult to her father. “She wasn’t the one who wrote it, the letter was written by a paid writer”.- said the source

The source further said not only was Obasanjo’s daughter paid to write the explosive letter of abuse to her father, she was under the influence of a suspected spiritual power.

Weeks before the letter surfaced, Governor Osoba paid Iyabo a visit in the United States Of America.

The former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba confirmed that he met Iyabo Obasanjo, during his trip to the United States in September 2013.

Recounting his chance meeting with Ms. Obasanjo to SaharaReporters, Chief Osoba said he was in the United States for the 73rd anniversary of the Nieman Foundation Fellowship when he ran into Iyabo, while he was staying at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, who told him her car was parked in the hotel’s basement parking lot.

Chief Osoba said that after the meeting, Iyabo Obasanjo went downstairs to get her car and then drove him to the offices of the Nieman Foundation Center where he had an event. He said the trip took close to an hour, leaving plenty of time for a long conversation.

Speaking further, Chief Osoba disclosed that Iyabo expressed exactly the same sentiments about her father contained in her letter that was just published by SaharaReporters.

 According to the former governor, Ms. Obasanjo stated that her father would divide the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) more than it was after his so-called intervention in the party.

 He said Ms. Obasanjo also stated that she had no plans to return anymore to Nigerian politics, a sentiment she expressed in the insultive letter to her father.

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Day I blasted Obasanjo To His face - Atiku

Former Vice-President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that he “blasted” his then boss, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, over his bid to run for a second term.

Abubakar made the disclosure during an interview with a newspaper published in Hausa.

In the interview published by an online publication on Friday, Abubakar also disclosed that he and Obasanjo argued over his failed third term bid. Atiku said during one of their arguments, Obasanjo gave him a Quran to swear loyalty to him.

He said, “At first we started arguing, and then he (Obasanjo) opened his drawer and brought out a copy of the Quran and asked me to swear that I will not be disloyal to him. There was nothing I did not tell him in that room. The first thing I told him was that I swore with the Quran to defend the Constitution of Nigeria. Why are you now giving me the Quran to swear for you again? What if I swear for you and you go against the constitution?

“Secondly, I looked at him and told him that if I don’t like you or don’t support you, would I have called 19 northern governors to meet for three days in my House in Kaduna only for us to turn our back on you?

“Thirdly, I asked him, what are you even doing with the Quran? Are you a Muslim that you would even administer an oath on me with the Quran? I was angry, and I really blasted him. He asked me to forgive him and he returned the Quran back to the drawer, and we came out.”

Obasanjo’s third term bid failed following public outcry over what many saw as unconstitutional.

Speaking further about the controversial bid, which could have taken Obasanjo to a record 12 years as the country’s president, Atiku said he vehemently told Obasanjo to leave after the completion of his second term in office.

He said, “In fact we had the same kind of altercation when he was gunning for third term, he informed me that “ I left power twenty years ago, I left Mubarak in office, I left Mugabe in office, I left Eyadema in office, I left Umar Bongo, and even Paul Biya and I came back and they are still in power; and I just did eight years and you are asking me to go; why?” And I responded to him by telling him that Nigeria is not Libya, not Egypt, not Cameroun, and not Togo; I said you must leave; even if it means both of us lose out, but you cannot stay.”

Obasanjo and Atiku fell out at some point during their administration, with reports that the two did not see eye to eye.

There were also unconfirmed reports that the two of them fell out because Obasanjo went back on his promise to use one term in office and support Atiku’s candidacy for the presidency after his four years. Some reports claimed that Obasanjo had to go on his knees to seek Atiku’s support for his second term.

Atiku denied that his former boss went on his knees to plead for his support. He, however, said that Obasanjo visited his residence to plead for his support.

READ MORE: http://news.naij.com/51235.html

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Farida Waziri In EFCC Was A Terrible Mistake - Obasanjo

This is what Obansanjo has to say about the era of former boss of EFCC, Madame Farida Waziri.

“I know that the woman they brought in to replace Ribadu (Farida Waziri) was not the right person for that job, because I understood that one of those who head-hunted her was James Ibori. 

“If James Ibori, who is now in a U.K. prison for fraud, head-hunt somebody who will fight corruption in Nigeria, then you can understand what happened.”

Obasanjo said this in an exclusive interview he granted Zero Tolerance, a magazine produced by the EFCC.

The former president, whose administration established Nigeria’s two main anti-corruption agencies, EFCC and ICPC, said he is aware that former Delta State Governor and convicted money launderer, James Ibori, played a major role in Mrs. Waziri’s appointment.

That explains why no one could successfully prosecute Ibori in Nigeria.

It would be recalled that even the international community was so suspicious of Farida Waziri that an Amircan Ambassador to Nigeria, Robin Sanders, threatened to walk out of a meeting with Nigeria’s then Foreign Affairs Minister, Ojo Madueke, if Mrs. Waziri was part of the meeting.

Obasanjo also commended Mr. Ribadu, saying his performance as EFCC boss helped reduce corruption in Nigeria and improve her rating by Transparency International.

“When I was there, the EFCC and ICPC worked tirelessly and we moved this country from the corruption perception index being number 2 from the lowest to being number 45 from the lowest,” he said.

He condemned the manner Mr. Ribadu was removed from office saying he cautioned late President Umaru Yar’Adua against the removal. 

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Obasanjo Is The Master-mind Behind PDP Crisis' - PDP Chieftain

A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of master-minding the ongoing crisis in the ruling party at the national level.

Kashamu in a statement, yesterday, in Abeokuta, described Obasanjo action as deceitful. He said the actions of the “so-called seven aggrieved governors and their collaborators” explained better.

According to him: “The events leading to the current storm in a tea cup are all too familiar to warrant a recount here. But true to my character, what I find unsettling and difficult to stomach is the pretensions of some of our leaders who are now masquerading as peace makers.”

“There is sufficient evidence that they were part and parcel of the gang up against the Presidency and the leadership of the party.

“Let me state from the outset that while it is true that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is my adopted political father and I am one of his foot soldiers, it is also true that I have learnt from him the virtues of courage and how to speak the truth to power, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”

Source: Vanguard 

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Atiku Kneels Down For Obasanjo

Atiku and Obasanjo, who served as vice president and president of Nigeria respectively, between 1999-2007, had an estranged relationship during the last lap of their second term in office.

Both men were among a retinue of VIPs invited to the opening of the week long Comptroller-Generals’ conference held at the newly inaugurated auditorium of Katsina State University.

Obasanjo, who arrived ahead of Atiku, was seated next to second republic President Shehu Shagari and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

Atiku, who arrived nearly 40-minutes after his former boss, first greeted the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu, Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdulmimini Usman, the Ooni and Shagari who were seated at the podium.

When he got to Obasanjo, the former Vice President knelt down and bowed his head to greet his former boss.

The delighted crowd followed the mild drama with a loud applause and cheers.

A man who sat opposite the VIP podium raised his two hands up and shouted “Alleluia”.

Earlier, Vice President Namadi Sambo who represented President Goodluck Jonathan had inaugurated the 1,500 capacity auditorium of the Katsina State University, venue of the conference.

Two former heads of state, top traditional rulers from different geo-political zones in Nigeria, former Comptroller-Generals of Customs and Customs chiefs from Africa attended the opening event.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal delivered a goodwill message, where he challenged the Customs to go beyond its “statutory role” of combating smuggling of goods.

Tambuwal listed other roles of the service to include revenue collection, trade facilitation and border protection.

He urged the service to collaborate with other relevant agencies in the country to improve their services.

He pledged that the National Assembly would support the ongoing review of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) to enable the service discharge its function optimally.

The theme of this year’s annual Comptroller-General’s conference is “Border Divide, Customs Connects.”

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Exposed:How Obasanjo used govs, ministers for 3rd term project

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s denial of his involvement in the third term tenure controversy roiled on at the weekend with key figures in the opposition to the proposal unfolding how he mobilised the machinery of government to advance the proposal.

Former presidential aide and member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje, and another former House member, Ms. Temi Harriman, narrated how governors and key officials of the Obasanjo administration were mobilised and intimidated to coerce the lawmakers to adopt the proposal.

At a point, according to Harriman, ministers of the Obasanjo government were put under pressure to ensure that National Assembly members from their states supported the enactment.

Harriman toldVanguard how she was brought under pressure to the fact that she was endangering the position of the then Minister of State (Defence), Dr. Rowland Oritsejafor.

Ibori’s threat on N50m rejection

She also disclosed that the then governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, told her that there would be no future for her if she declined the alleged N50 million incentive for supporting the proposal.

Harriman represented Warri, Delta State, Federal Constituency between 2003 and 2007 on the platform of PDP and was the only PDP member in the House from the South who came out against it.

She said: “They were phoning my mother in London, they were phoning my dad, they were using traditional rulers, all ministers had to deliver and they said that if I didn’t support that, Oritsejafor was going to be sacked and eventually he was removed.

“We didn’t stay in our houses just to be careful, especially those of us that were running the secretariat. My  governor at that time, James Ibori, when he learnt of my opposition and that I was rejecting the N50 million sent to me, phoned me that there was no future for me in PDP if I didn’t support it and that I should collect the money. I now called the emissaries who were the leaders of the South-South caucus at that time and told them that ‘if any body dared to collect any money on my behalf that I will call a press conference to expose them.’”

Bugaje, who was the chairman of the 2007 Movement which comprised members of the House of Representatives opposed to third term said: “He (Obasanjo) is a pathetic liar, the whole world knows. What about the money that was distributed by (senator, names withheld), a former presidential aide?

“How can he talk like this. Everybody knows that he did everything short of killing some of us. I know people who were pursued even in hospitals.

“When were going to hold a meeting against third term, you would remember that Victor Lar, who is now a senator had to hide for nearly three days because they wanted to arrest him. My private office was burgled and they picked an American intern and the American embassy had to rescue him. So, how can he say that he did not?

Mantu’s role

“What about Mantu, who asked Mantu to do what he did? Mantu was chairman of the constitution review panel and they did what they did in Port Harcourt and Bawa Bwari, the former chief whip, told of how they were excluded from the deliberation.

“Even EFCC refused to follow our alert when they were distributing the N50 million. We followed them, we gave them the vehicle number- plates and yet they refused to acknowledge or follow up our lead.

”Who else would have been able to mobilise SSS, EFCC, Police and others for this other than the President? So, it is an outright lie and he should not add to the crimes he has already committed by lying to the Nigerian people.”

Source:Vanguardngr

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National Assembly initiated 3rd term – Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied the allegation that he ever solicited for a third term as the President of Nigeria, saying it was the National Assembly that included it amongst the other clauses of the constitution, that were to be amended. While commenting on the challenges of deepening democratic institutions in Africa, the former president for the first time, in an exclusive interview with Channels Television stated firmly that “I never toyed with the idea of a third term.”

 The former president insisted that he has always denied the allegations and talks around the third term issue which he allegedly sought at the end of his two-term tenure of eight years in 2007. He claimed the bill for the third term was initiated by members of the National Assembly along with the constitution amendment. 

 “Third term was one out of over a hundred clauses that they (the National Assembly) included in that amendment and they initiated it. “It was not an executive bill, so you are absolutely wrong” he affirmed to Channels reporter, adding that “if I want a third term that bill would have come from me. “My liaison officer to the National Assembly, Florence Ita-Giwa told the whole world that there was no day I ever called her and say go and work for third term,” he added.

 He also took a swipe at his Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, saying, “even Atiku who said some people told him there was a third term agenda hasn’t mentioned the names of the people that told him such. “Even Ibrahim Mantu, who was the chairman of the constitution amendment committee, will never tell you I told him I want a third term.” The former president who now owns a church in Abeokuta further explained that he knew what he would have done to achieve the third term, if he wanted it.

 “I am not a fool. If I want a third term, I know how to go about it and there is nothing I want that God hasn’t given me. If I had wanted a third term, I would have gone about it the way I should have gone about it and I would have gotten it.” The retired general spoke with our correspondent Olugbenga Ashiru in an interview session in his hilltop home in Abeokuta South-west Nigeria.

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Obasanjo resigns as PDP BoT chairman

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday resigned his position as chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying the move would enable him fulfill his duties as a statesman locally and internationally.

The unexpected resignation which caused ripples in party circles last night, Obasanjo added, would also free him to concentrate on his presidential library and mobilize investments into the continent.

The letter of resignation was addressed to the national chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as is required by the party’s constitution.

The Secretary of the BOT, Senator Walid Jubril, however, claimed ignorance of the resignation yesterday.

The board of trustees of the party, according to the constitution comprises of men and women of integrity that have contributed critically to the party, and who act as the conscience of the party.

It was gathered that Obasanjo’s letter of resignation was made available to News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, which is headed by his erstwhile spokesperson, Mrs. Remi Oyo.

A s cover to the letter of resignation sent to NAN the former President said:

‘’I have formally sent in my letter of resignation as the Chairman of BOT of PDP to the National Chairman of the party as prescribed in the party’s constitution.

‘’I have formally requested the President to allow my bowing out and to issue a short statement to that effect.

“By relieving myself of the responsibility for chairmanship of BOT of PDP, I will have a bit more time to devote to the international demand on me.”

According to him, the resignation would give him time, ‘’to give some attention to mentoring across the board nationally and internationally in those areas that I have acquired some experience, expertise and in which I have something to share. In 2011, I was in the vanguard of working for PDP to produce a president for Nigeria. God answered our prayer.”

He also said that it will allow him concentrate on his Presidential Library as well as to mobilize  and encourage investment in Nigeria and Africa, adding that he had promised to reduce his partisan political activities if PDP produces the President.

But when Vanguard contacted the Secretary, Board of Trustees, BoT, Senator Walid Jubril of the development, he simply said he was not aware.

It would be recalled that on June 27, 2007, Obasanjo emerged as the Chairman of BOT after a controversial amendment of the PDP constitution which allowed him to take over from the erstwhile Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih. Former governor of Nasarawa State and now a Senator, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu was also elected the Secretary of the board.

It would also be recalled that when Obasanjo was elected in June, 2007 at the Kano Hall of Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, it became the first time in the existence of the party that the board of trustees held its meeting in the morning as against the usual nocturnal meeting of the board. Anenih was conspicuously absent at the meeting, but his wife, Mrs. Josephine Anenih was present at the meeting where the decision was taken to replace her husband.

Before the meeting, Anenih as chairman had fixed the meeting for 8pm that day, but the time was changed without his consent.

To pave way for him to become the Chairman of BoT, former President Obasanjo had seen to the amendment of the party’s constitution which provided that only a former president still in the party could hold that position, but the clause was later changed in 2009.

Source:Vanguardngr

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