A new report reveal that President Jonathan is doing
everything within his power to shield the minister from
probes, or make her accountable.
According to saharareporters.com
Contrary to the impression created by President Goodluck
Jonathan that he plans to ‘probe’ the Minister of Aviation,
Stella Oduah over the fraudulent purchase of two BMW
armored cars, Saharareporters can authoritatively report
that the President and his team are working very hard to
shield the Minister.
SaharaReporters investigations show that Mrs. Oduah was
listed as one of the 54 officials that traveled within the
inner circle of the President to Israel. President Jonathan
however gave her the permission to travel ahead of the
delegation 24 hours early under the guise that she would
be signing the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA)
between Nigeria and Israel. As it turns out, the BASA
agreement is not due for signing until October 29,
following which Mr. Jonathan will depart for Nigeria.
Mrs. Oduah is also one of the ministers listed to follow
the President to a meeting with President Mahmoud
Abbas in the Occupied Palestinian territory, also on
October 29.
Since arriving in Israel, Mr. Jonathan and several officials,
including Mrs. Oduah, have occupied the King David Hotel
in Jerusalem, and she has had direct access and regular
meetings with the President.
Our reporters have seen her many times at meetings. An
attempt by a student journalist to interview her was
rebuffed as Mrs. Oduah claimed the student was a
SaharaReporters journalist seeking to put her into more
trouble.
Since arriving Israel, President Goodluck Jonathan has
employed the services of Senator Emmanuel Paulker from
his home state of Bayelsa to reach out to lawmakers to
chill the ongoing investigations.
The Nigerian Senate is reportedly in alignment but the
House of Representatives is seen to be a bit more
aggressive, which was the reason Mr. Jonathan decided to
set up a “probe panel” that would slow down the situation
so that Mrs. Oduah can keep her job.
A Presidency source told SaharaReporters that President
Jonathan has little regard for the probe going on at the
House of Representatives, calling them “hungry people.”
The implication is that they can easily be bought with
money. The source said Mrs. Oduah would most likely
ignore the House aviation committee subpoena for
Tuesday next week
In all, the Nigeria delegation in Israel is said to be over
800 officials, which means it is considerably larger than
the delegates that travelled with Mr. Jonathan to the 68th
United Nations General Assembly last month, as was
reported by SaharaReporters.
Among them our reporters stated that there are at least 11
governors, 8 deputy governors and 14 Ministers.
The governors include Gabriel Suswam of Benue state,
Godswill Akapbio of Akwa Ibom, Liyel Imoke of Cross
Rivers, Martin Elechi of Ebonyi, Theodore Orji of Abia
State, Peter Obi of Anambra, Jonah Jang of Plateau and
Emmanuel uduaghan of Delta State. The Bayelsa State
governor whose whereabouts has been mystery is
expected to join the train later tonight.
In addition to Mrs. Oduah, the Ministers are Jumoke
Akinjide, (minister of state for FCT), Godsday Orube (Niger
Delta), Olubolade (Police Affairs), Nyeson Wike (Education),
Labaran Maku (Minister of information), the minister of
Trade and investment and Fiancnae minister, Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala are also expected to join later.
It would be recalled that the presidency announcement of
the visit by spokesman Reuben Abati last Tuesday listed
only Senator Paulker; the Minister of Agriculture, Mr.
Akinwunmi Adesina; the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs.
Sarah Ochekpe; the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen;
the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof Viola Onwuliri;
and the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki as
the officials accompanying President Jonathan.
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