Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
Third Republic Senate President, Ameh Ebute, has said going by former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent letter to President Muhammadu Buhari and other letters he has written to former Nigerian leaders, particularly, former President GoodluckJonathan, he is now causing trouble in the country.
This was even as he said that the outburst by Obasanjo is corruption fighting back. Ebute said while the current administration is pushing corruption away, Obasanjo is pushing corruption back in the country.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, Ebute said Nigerians should recall that he had always been the one replying Obasanjo’s letters each time he wrote.
He said: “Chief Obasanjo has written quite a number of such letters and if you keep track of the responses to such letters, I am the one that has been replying those letters and I want to give a reply this one. I wrote a reply to Chief Obasanjo’s letter because I am of the opinion that as an elder statesman, he should be more concerned in making peace rather than causing trouble in the country.
“The type of letters he has been writing to heads of state, including Buhari and Jonathan, are capable of instigating members of the public against government. But, I think it is the wrong way in correcting the government of one’s country. Obasanjo has all the opportunities to meet Buhari privately in his office in Aso Rock, advise him without going to the media, to tell him what the government is not doing well and what the government has done well. I think that is the proper way to advise government in good faith.
“When you write an open letter for the generality of people to read, I agree that the intention is not in good faith.”
Ebute also said Obasanjo, who has been head of state on different occasions, is in a better position to correct the ills and odds he enumerated in his letter to Buhari.
“He spent eight years in office, unable to achieve, unable to make the corrections that he is pointing out now. For eight years, wanted a third term which he failed (to get) and now, not allowing other people to perform. I take it as not allowing other people to perform. So, I take serious objection to that.
“…Today, I am proved wrong as you have, again, trampled on decency and decorous behaviour by publicly attempting to ridicule, malign and assault the seat of power with a repeat letter to president Buhari,” said Ebute in his five-page letter to Obasanjo.