‘Prosecute Jonathan now’ – Oshiomole Challenges Buhari

‘Prosecute Jonathan now’ – Oshiomole Challenges Buhari

Former governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to put his predecessor, ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on trial over allegations of corruption.

Oshiomole contends that this is the only way to disprove the claims of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the ongoing war against corruption is selective.

Speaking in Benin City, the Edo State capital at the weekend, Oshiomole said the former president should be docked for approving money beyond his powers and spending it in a way that was not accounted for.

The former Edo State governor also faulted calls by the PDP that the National Assembly should approve the $1b approved by the Federal Government to battling insurgency.

“I hear them say the prosecution is selective. Maybe they are right because if they are not maybe President Jonathan should be in the dock. He approved money beyond his powers and spent it in a way that is not accounted for,” said Oshiomole, who said he’s in support of the release of the looters list.

“I think that if other Nigerians don’t understand the power of transparency, the right to know, the media should uphold that right and defend it. What was stolen was not from private purse; the house that was destroyed was not a private residence.  We are talking of resources, which if it is distributed on basis of equality and divide by 180 million people, you will be a lot richer.

“I think my only complaint is that the Federal Government should go more ruthless because there are a lot of people who should be in court who are not there because when I was still in the office and I said the kind of money they stole was huge in dollars, they paid hired writers to say how do I know.”

The former governor continued: “I think the promise of democracy is that good or bad the people have the right to know and that is the starting point and particularly important when armed robbers of yesterday are trying to do face surgery so that he looks different. Some are jumping the boat to wear new face, to change identity, and to change their fingerprints so that they can come back.

“I think the people have the right to know and if any of them think that what was been said is not true, they can go to court.

“All of them, who are involved and those who they are looking for, they should put everything in public domain and that is the promise of democracy. Just by virtue of being in a winning party, they helped themselves so much. One of the acting chairmen of PDP, Ahmed Makarfi, I used to respect him so much, I heard him saying that the reason they did not indict Diezani was that the money missing and everything that was done Goodluck approved. If President approved that money, should it be stolen and not go into the federation account. Is that the reason the PDP-led Senate and a subcommittee led by Makarfi cannot say it is not the minister but President Jonathan?”

Jonathan continues to be a target of officials of the present administration in the ongoing fight against corruption, with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo accusing him of massive theft in the lead up to the 2015 general election.

It remains to be seen when charges will be brought against him.