Reps spokesman describes Obasanjo as the most corrupt Nigerian on record
Abdulrazak Namdas, spokesperson of the house of representatives, says former President Olusegun Obasanjo is the grandfather of corruption in Nigeria.
Namdas – who was reacting to a statement by Obasanjo, who on referred to the national assembly as “a den of corruption” occupied by “unarmed robbers – said Obasanjo is the most corrupt Nigerian on record.
The former president also recommended that the ongoing anti-corruption war in the judiciary be extended to the parliament because “it stinks to high heavens.”
But the spokesman of the house, speaking with journalists on Thursday, said the the former president lacked the moral authority to discuss corruption because “the list of his corrupt acts while in office is endless.”
“He remains the grandfather of corruption in Nigeria and lacks the moral authority to discuss corruption or indeed abuse of office in Nigeria as he remains the most corrupt Nigerian on record,” he said.
“Undoubtedly, the former President Obasanjo is understandably angry with the National Assembly as an institution having foiled his ambition for a third-term in office even after trying to corrupt the members with a bribe of at least N50m each.
“Lest we forget, the person who introduced corruption to the National Assembly is Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. He birthed the 4th Republic National Assembly with corrupt practices from day one; indeed the first day of the Republic.
“He bribed both PDP, ANPP and AD legislators on their inauguration in 1999 to vote against the majority candidate of PDP, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo. That was how Senator Evan Enwerem became Senate President.
“Have we forgotten the sacks of money displayed on the floor of the House of Representatives being bribe money paid by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to some Honourable members to impeach Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ghali N’abba?
“Have we forgotten that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo used his position as President to extort money from businessmen and contractors with his government to build his presidential library?”.
Namdas said it was unfortunate that he has started his familiar way of bringing down governments.
He argued that the national budget which Obasanjo claimed was high “is grossly underfunded and is hampered from effectively and legitimately carrying out its Constitutionally assigned functions.”
“He did it to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, he did it to Gen. Buhari, he did same to Gen. Babangida, he attempted to bring down Gen. Abacha before he imprisoned him for treason; he made frantic efforts to derail the government of President Ya’ardua when he couldn’t use him,” he said.
“He supported President Goodluck Jonathan but when he refused to take dictation, he turned against him. He supported President Buhari, but since he has sensed that Nigeria is having economic difficulties under him, he has pounced to derail his government. Or is it because he has not appointed all his cronies as requested? We may never know. His stuck in trade is blackmail, subversion and treachery.”
OBJ may be the grand master of corruption but these National Assembly members are the Grand Children of the Grand Master who employ modern technology in their acts.
Who does not know that the National Assembly is corrupt? If Obasanjo introduced corruption to the National Assembly, was he the one who also introduced corruption to the judiciary, the armed forces and the NNPC to mention but a few. Namdas should ask his brother Babangida what he introduced to the Nigerian society as a whole. Nemesis will catch up with those who had in one way or another subjected common Nigerians to the economic hardships we found ourselves today.