The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has challenged Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s former president, to render an account of his regime.
In a much-quoted statement yesterday, Obasanjo described the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly as full of “rogues and armed robbers.”
Obasanjo imperiously queried the quality of the laws such people may be expected to produce, stating, “Integrity is necessary for systems and institutions to be strong.”
Agreeing with the former president about the necessity of integrity, CNPP described Obasanjo’s administration as “A regime that harvested unprecedented oil revenue without commensurate project performance, a regime that bastardized our democracy and a regime which simulated the fault lines hence Boko Haram and other insurgences.”
Recalling that the former general returned from jail a very poor man, CNPP pointed out how, after eight years of looting while in office, he has become one of the richest Africans.
Citing various instances of Obasanjo’s manipulation of the nation’s economy, politics and laws for his personal benefit, it challenged him to explain why all the probes and audit of his regime by the National Assembly have found him culpable.
“Chief Obasanjo blatantly looted the treasury of the nation, withdrew billions from the treasury without appropriation, corrupted the privatization process, serially obstructed justice, which made CNPP to file a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 24 December 2007, when his immunity exited,” the statement said.
CNPP also pointed out that it has become the trade mark of Chief Obasanjo to paint Nigeria black each time he is out of power, a deceptive strategy he designed long time ago to curry the favour and recognition of the international community, and warned him not to think that he will escape or that his corruption case has been closed.
Sahara Reporters