23 July 2008
Lagos — Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigerians should take their electricity problem to God, adding that they should take to God anything they do not have which they wished to have or cannot get.
Obasanjo spoke yesterday when he reluctantly fielded questions from journalists as he arrived the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Also yesterday, House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole warned that lawmakers would not be stampeded into taking final decisions on the recommendations of its committee that probed the expenses in the power sector between 1999 and 2007 when Obasanjo held sway as president.
The Speaker said the House would follow due process to ensure that the recommendations brought before it were thoroughly considered.
Cornered at the airport, Obasanjo responded to questions thus: Sir, what advice do you have on the power problem in the country?
Obasanjo: Power, which power?
Journalists: Electricity
Obasanjo: Do you have electricity in your area?
Journalists: No
Obasanjo: Anything you don't have or you cannot get, then leave it to God
Journalists: How do you feel when Nigerians don't appreciate your contributions to the development of the nation?
Obasanjo: Hey! Hey!, calling a friend of his who was on his entourage; the man walked up to him and he said to him: "They are asking about good governance....Go into your car. Bye bye o," he said, waving.
Obasanjo, who arrived in a chartered HS125 aircraft from Abuja, also described his political "sons" including the former governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, as his good children.
The former president retorted when asked his reaction to the move to reconcile him to all his estranged political supporters in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), "All my children are good children."
The interview went thus; "How do you react to the move by some leaders of your party to reconcile you with some of your estranged political children?"
Obasanjo humorously responded: "All my children are good children. Do you have bad children, if you have bad children na your own toro"
The former president was besieged by Aviation Correspondents but he did not say anything again.
He walked leisurely to his GMC four-wheel-drive, boarded and departed with a stream of convoy.
Bankole spoke against the backdrop of reports that the recommendations of the House Committee on Power and Steel which recently probed the power sector were already being implemented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Angered by revelations that the panel report had been submitted to the House leadership in the last three weeks without it being listed for presentation and consideration, Hon. Mohammed Maifata yesterday raised a point of order on Matter of Privilege, insisting that the House had breached the rule by sending the report to EFCC before it had been laid on the table.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, while addressing the House said," Nobody has released the report of the committee. It has been ready for presentation but it has not been listed or called up for presentation
"Does it mean it should jump the queue? That report is what our integrity is built on. But it does not mean we should jump the queue since we are not witch-hunting anybody."
Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Ita Ennag, in a bid to wriggle out of the controversy said the committee had already slated the report for presentation but that a date was yet to be fixed.
But while ruling on the matter, Bankole told his colleagues that the House would follow order and would not unnecessarily overheat the system.
He said the House would not be stampeded to take decisions on the matter.
The Speaker who just returned from Zambia where he spent one week attending the Africa Parliamentary Union Congress, however, referred the issue to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for further investigation.
Yesterday, the House also killed a motion on the Privatisation of Niger Dock, which 24 lawmakers had brought before it saying that due process was not followed in bringing up the motion.
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Obasanjo's reactions are from his knowledge of what the expected outcome of the power-probe would be. He's attitude was developed from the knowledge and vision he has on the so called legislative arms of government which is largely constituted by his Son's and other Economic and Political Hitmen alike,all playing the same game on same platform known as government with different tunes called political parties for entertaining wishful Nigerians masses in particular through what is called Mass Media. A man who have also sex his biological son's wife, is still being bold, proud and arrogant in public shows what sort of entity he is. nothing but a spiritless human soul programmed for hell, like his friends Adedibu and all those who follow suit called Politicians.
An awkward comment from an equally awkward fellow.Has God been ruling us since 8 yrs plus? This shows the kind of people that force themselves on Nigerians,utterly stupid thing to say that if we have no power supply, pipe borne water, good roads and safe societies all we need do is ask God, why all the while ignoring to know that these were budgeted for.Nemesis will catch up with all these thieves in our sit of power.Lest I forget, the senate quashed the bill to commute death penalties to life in prison for petty criminals equally hardened ones all the same working hard to protect all the major thieves we have in our govt, shame on you senate,if not careful, you will all go the same way.
"Leave electricity problem to God". says OBJ. Now my fellow Nigerians, are these the right words from an educated individual?. Shows his level of education.We know God is a divine entity that provides for everything. He already provided the money to build electric generating stations for the country in many folds, but what happened to the money?.Now for him to say we should put our electricity problem in the hands of God is an insult to all Nigerians because he is in way saying he is god in Nigeria. Since he was in charge of developing and giving out "real" contracts to battle the elctricity problem in the country. Reading all these , it has dawned on me and my colleagues that the ex-president was really corrupt and those around him saw the type of person he was and that is why they indulged in corruption themselves.ABACHA IS A SAINT COMPARED TO THE ATTROCITIES OF OBJ AND HIS FAMILY.Many attributes to OBJ is that he nearly sold the wealth of the country to the foreigners for his own gain. He did not care about the development and the security of the country. Bakassi sign over is one great example of selling the country's security. And now the $16 billion plus is an example of this man's selfishness. Should I go on?Let the probes and enquiries be real or we are still in the dark ages.
This type of comment is not surprising given the religious fervour in the country. Our religion has blinded us to the realities of life. God has nothing to do with what is happening in Nigeria. We are the architect of our fortune. it appears to me that Nigerians a not capable of thinking about the future. Instant gratification has bogged our thinking for decades. I predict re-enslavement! Act now before it is too late. What you think you have and do not put to good use will be taken away from you (forcibly).
Obasanjo is either confirming the belief in some circles that he is insane or he is just a stupid dirty old thief. Is this what it takes to become a General in the Nigerian Army? This man (despite all his years in the military)lacks a conscience or is it expected that after lots of years as a soldier, one looses his sense of decorum? I dont think so, because I know quite a few ex Nigerian Army officers who have acted decently from our days in high schools and there days in the army. Where is that discipline and love of Country?