As the Presidency prepares a
reply to the 18-page letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to
President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the nation, indications emerged,
yesterday, that the former leader was not expecting any reply but action from
Jonathan.
A competent source told Sunday
Vanguard that Obasanjo was more interested in Jonathan addressing the core
issues he raised in his letter rather than getting a reply to his damning
missive, entitled, ‘Before it is too late’.
The source, which also denied any breakfast meeting between Obasanjo and Jonathan in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, said the story was made up by those who tried to play down the importance of the former leader’s letter.
The source said,”The truth of
the matter is that former President Obasanjo is not expecting President
Jonathan to reply him. Absolutely no. The President did not consider it needful
to respond to previous letters privately written to him by the former head of
state and he does not expect any reply to this one.
“I can tell you that Obasanjo
wrote the letter with the best intentions for Jonathan and Nigeria and what he
wants from the President is courageous and timely actions to save Nigeria from
the brink. That’s all.
“Obasanjo will be a happy
Nigerian if appropriate steps are taken by President Jonathan to address the
burning issues of corruption and other challenges that threaten to bring this
country down.
“There is absolutely no reason
to expect a reply from the Presidency when previous letters written to him were
not even acknowledged.”
It was however learnt, at the
weekend, that presidential aides have drafted a response to Obasanjo’s letter.
The response was said to be awaiting Jonathan’s approval.
The response was said to be awaiting Jonathan’s approval.
Asked to justify the breakfast
parley between the former President and Jonathan in Kenya on the day the
bromide of Obasanjo’s letter was feasted on by the media, the source said there
was no meeting between the two leaders.
The source said that Obasanjo
and Jonathan only met by chance and exchanged pleasantries as they lodged in
the same hotel in Nairobi.
Obasanjo stirred controversy
when he wrote a letter to Jonathan drawing his attention to myriad of issues
capable of taking Nigeria to the brink if not addressed.
But the Presidency fired back,
describing the letter as inciting, provocative and
self-serving. Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, who’s issued a
statement, indicated that Jonathan would make a formal response but did not
say when he would do so.
Vanguard
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