Obasanjo: Boko Haram is an “industry in the government” & Military “riddled with corruption”
Nigeria’s former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has hit out against President Goodluck Jonathan, the National Assembly and even the Nigerian Military in a speech that warned of difficult times ahead for Nigeria.
“Let me make bold to say that, if we continue to apply force alone, seeing Boko Haram has become an industry in the Government circles and within the Boko Haram itself, it maybe suppressed for a while but it will not be eliminated,” said Obasanjo.
Obasanjo speaking at a book Launch in honour of the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Mustapha Akanbi, in Abuja
The speech comes during a series of recriminating accusations between President Goodluck and Obasanjo. Last week, Goodluck’s spokesman accused Obasanjo of “untrue” comments.
In his speech, on Boko Haram, Obasanjo said:
“Let me start with the issue of security. Boko Haram is not simply a menace based on religion or one directed to frustrate anybody’s political ambition… It is essentially a socio-economic problem that is tainted with religion. It is a gargantuan danger to the nation and to all Nigerians”.
On Goodluck Jonathan:
“As a leader, you must not deliberately do evil or condone evil. You should know that you will one day give account to God, you may cover up here, but before God, there is no cover up.”
“The greatest indictment against any administration is to be the destroyer of our fledgling democracy. To try to crush opposition, even within the same party let alone within the national political system, is to destroy democracy.
On corruption in the National Assembly:
“The legislature which is shrouding corruption in the opaque nature of its budget have been encouraged through direct payments to the legislature in order to cover up its wrong doings by the executive, thereby making the legislature fail in its oversight responsibility. in extorting money from departments , contractors adn ministries in two ways in the socalled oversight repsonsibility
“They do similar things in their so-called enquiries. But the Executive make it worsens when they pay members of the National Assembly slush money not to investigate or to cover up misdeeds of corruption and misconduct.
“Corruption in the National Assembly also includes what they call constituency projects which they give to their agents to execute but invariably, full payment us made either little or no job done.
“Most members of the National Assembly live above the law in their misconduct and corruption.”
On the Nigerian Military:
“Today, there is no institution of government that is not riddled with corruption, not even the military. As the people cry out, where then is the salvation.”
On the Economy:
“The economy is in the doldrums, if not reverse. The often quoted GDP growth neither reflects the living conditions of most of our people nor on most of the indigineous industries.”
“The position may be that, in future, we will have a budget that cannot be funded. We may have to borrow to pay the salaries and allowances. Revenue allocation to states and local governments has already drastically reduced. Capital projects at all levels of government may have to be drastically cut or stopped.”
“We will all sink deeper in poverty except for those who have corruptly stashed money abroad and who will start to bring such illegal and illegitimate funds back home to harvest more Naira. All the economic gains of recent years and the rebuild of the middle class may be lost.”
Members of the audience as they listened to Obasanjo’s wide-ranging speech.
“Let me make bold to say that, if we continue to apply force alone, seeing Boko Haram has become an industry in the Government circles and within the Boko Haram itself, it maybe suppressed for a while but it will not be eliminated,” said Obasanjo.
Obasanjo speaking at a book Launch in honour of the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC, Mustapha Akanbi, in AbujaThe speech comes during a series of recriminating accusations between President Goodluck and Obasanjo. Last week, Goodluck’s spokesman accused Obasanjo of “untrue” comments.
In his speech, on Boko Haram, Obasanjo said:
“Let me start with the issue of security. Boko Haram is not simply a menace based on religion or one directed to frustrate anybody’s political ambition… It is essentially a socio-economic problem that is tainted with religion. It is a gargantuan danger to the nation and to all Nigerians”.
On Goodluck Jonathan:
“As a leader, you must not deliberately do evil or condone evil. You should know that you will one day give account to God, you may cover up here, but before God, there is no cover up.”
“The greatest indictment against any administration is to be the destroyer of our fledgling democracy. To try to crush opposition, even within the same party let alone within the national political system, is to destroy democracy.
On corruption in the National Assembly:
“The legislature which is shrouding corruption in the opaque nature of its budget have been encouraged through direct payments to the legislature in order to cover up its wrong doings by the executive, thereby making the legislature fail in its oversight responsibility. in extorting money from departments , contractors adn ministries in two ways in the socalled oversight repsonsibility
“They do similar things in their so-called enquiries. But the Executive make it worsens when they pay members of the National Assembly slush money not to investigate or to cover up misdeeds of corruption and misconduct.
“Corruption in the National Assembly also includes what they call constituency projects which they give to their agents to execute but invariably, full payment us made either little or no job done.
“Most members of the National Assembly live above the law in their misconduct and corruption.”
On the Nigerian Military:
“Today, there is no institution of government that is not riddled with corruption, not even the military. As the people cry out, where then is the salvation.”
On the Economy:
“The economy is in the doldrums, if not reverse. The often quoted GDP growth neither reflects the living conditions of most of our people nor on most of the indigineous industries.”
“The position may be that, in future, we will have a budget that cannot be funded. We may have to borrow to pay the salaries and allowances. Revenue allocation to states and local governments has already drastically reduced. Capital projects at all levels of government may have to be drastically cut or stopped.”
“We will all sink deeper in poverty except for those who have corruptly stashed money abroad and who will start to bring such illegal and illegitimate funds back home to harvest more Naira. All the economic gains of recent years and the rebuild of the middle class may be lost.”
Members of the audience as they listened to Obasanjo’s wide-ranging speech.
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