President Muhammadu Buhari has
presented to his predecessor, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan, evidence of
infractions committed under his
watch in defence of the determination
of his administration to probe the
previous government.
New Telegraph learnt that the
president, during a late night meeting
with Jonathan at the State House on
August 6, showed reports of discreet
probes conducted by the new
government on the immediate past
administration to the former
president.
It was learnt that the secret meeting
between the two major contenders in
the last presidential election was at
the instance of the diplomatic
community to douse rising tension in
the country.
Multiple sources said Buhari showed
Jonathan evidence of infractions
committed under him as a president,
especially diversion of funds,
unwholesome oil deals, arms
purchase and several others.
It was gathered that the president
told his predecessor that he was not
playing to the gallery in the fight
against corruption as the public was
made to believe.
He said there were proofs of high-
level corruption against some officials
who served under Jonathan.
Besides, one of the sources said
Buhari showed Jonathan evidence of
recoveries made so far in terms of
assets and funds from some officials
of the immediate past government.
Of interest was the report of an
investigation carried out by a security
agency on an aide of the former
president from who about N1.5
billion had been recovered from.
“The president showed Dr. Jonathan
some discoveries made on several
infractions by officials of his
(Jonathan) administration. He
justified why his administration must
recover looted funds and prosecute
the offenders. It was a frank talk
between the two leaders.
“President Buhari availed Dr.
Jonathan of reports of various
discreet probes on oil deals, diversion
of funds and unwholesome arms
deals. From the reports, there is
overwhelming evidence of infractions
which the former president could not
dispute,” the source said. Buhari
stated that he was not out to
humiliate Jonathan in his fight against
graft and assured him of his highest
regards for the former president.
He, however, stated that no sensible
person would ignore the spate of
impunity that was prevalent in the
last administration.
The source said Jonathan, in his
response, feigned ignorance of many
of the infractions. He was said to have
mentioned some of his aides,
including one of his former chiefs of
staff, as one of those who could assist
the president to unravel the alleged
shady deals committed by some top
officials of the previous administration.
The source said Jonathan gave
assurances of his willingness to
cooperate with the government if the
need arises. “From the evidence so
far, it is either the former president
lacks the capacity to govern or
abdicated his responsibilities.
Otherwise, he must have been part of
the infractions,” the source said.
Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka,
confirmed this much when he said
that Jonathan surrounded himself
with questionable characters.
“When it comes to the issue of
corruption, Jonathan surrounds
himself with certain unsavoury
characters and that is something you
don’t have to do if you are in charge.
“There were forces around Jonathan,
which he himself did not understand
and that is why I stressed that, you’ve
got to choose your circle of advisers
very carefully, when you are in charge.
He was caged; things were going on
that he did not know about,” Soyinka
said. A source said that while the
former president might be spared of
‘direct’ probe, his aides, officials and
associates who have questions to
answer would be prosecuted.
Also, New Telegraph has learnt that
the essence of the August 11 meeting
between Buhari and members of the
General Abdusalami Abubakar-led
National Peace Committee was on
how to ensure the continued
existence of the peace committee and
to gain more insight into Buhari’s
approach to governance, particularly
his anti-corruption drive.
The peace committee, set up by the
Federal Government, played crucial
roles in ensuring violencefree 2015
general elections and peaceful
handover of power from Jonathan to Buhari.
At the meeting between the president
and members of the committee,
which came a few days after Buhari
and Jonathan had met, the delegation
asked Buhari if the peace panel
should be discontinued, given the fact
that it had completed its assignment.
Buhari, according to a source, told the
peace committee that he was not
averse to the activities of the panel
and its continued existence. “The
president told the committee that as a
man of peace, he will still need their
services,” the source said.
However, it was gathered that at the
session, an influential member of the
committee complained about Buhari’s
strategy to governance, particularly
his handling of the anticorruption war.
The member said the ongoing probe
was heating up the polity and
perceived as being selective,
especially limiting the inquiry to the
Jonathan administration. While the
committee members told the
president to follow due process in the
fight against graft, some others
described the anti-graft war as a
distraction to good governance.
According to a source privy to the
meeting, the president pointedly told
his guests that he has no apology
about his commitment to fight corruption.
He told the committee members that
what he expected from them is to talk
to those who have plundered the
nation’s treasury to return their loots,
saying this is the only way there can
be peace.
“The president was emphatic in his
response. He told us that while he
appreciates our concerns on his
approach to anti-graft fight, he would
diligently pursue the policy. He gave
assurances that due process and rule
of law will be observed in the
anticorruption war.
“The president gave us instances of
infractions by officials of the Jonathan
administration. He was specific on
some cases and even mentioned
names of people involved in highlevel
infractions.
He asked us what we would do if we
were in his shoes. “In the end, he told
us that the peace panel would do the
nation good if they can appeal and
persuade some officials of the
Goodluck Jonathan administration to
return looted funds.
The president said the recovery of the
looted funds should be the concern of
the committee and not ignoring the
infractions by those entrusted with
the nation’s commonwealth. The
president said nothing would stop
him from the recovery of looted
funds and prosecuting offenders,” the
source (New Telegraph).
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