The presidency has reacted furiously to the leakage of a letter written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.The letter exclusively published by Premium Times revealed the former President’s anger and frustration with President Jonathan and the way he is misgoverning Nigeria.The letter further confirms lingering reports of disagreement between the two leaders.
But in what appears to be a preliminary reaction, Presidential Spokesman ,Dr Reuben Abati who confirmed that Jonathan “has indeed received the said letter from Chief Obasanjo” he added that “The Presidency acknowledges that it We however find it highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative that a letter written by a former Head of State and respected elder statesman to President Jonathan has been deliberately leaked to the mass media in a deplorable effort to impugn the integrity of the President and denigrate his commitment to giving Nigeria the best possible leadership ”
“While many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land, President Jonathan has directed that none of his aides or any government official should join issues with Chief Obasanjo over it.
He said “The President himself will, at the appropriate time, offer a full personal response to the most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous charges levied against him and his administration by the former Head of State.”
According excerpts of the letter obtained by Premium Times Obasanjo said“It would be unfair to continue to level full blames on the Chairman (Tukur) for all that goes wrong with the party,” He added “The chairman is playing the tune dictated by the paymaster (Jonathan). But the paymaster is acting for a definitive purpose for which deceit and deception seem to be the major ingredients.
According to OBJ,“Up till two months ago, Mr. President, you told me that you have not told anybody that you would contest in 2015. I quickly pointed out to you that the signs and the measures on the ground do not tally with your statement. You said the same to one other person who shared his observation with me. And only a fool would believe that statement you made to me judging by what is going on. I must say it is not ingenious. You may wish to pursue a more credible and more honorable path.”
Click to Download Obasanjo’s letter to Jonathan as published by Premium Times
The former president accused Jonathan of failing to keep his promise not to contest in 2015,arguing that it would be “fatally morally flawed” for Jonathan to contest in 2015. “As a leader, two things you must cherish and hold dear among others are trust and honour both of which are important ingredients of character. I will want to see anyone in the Office of the Presidency of Nigeria as a man or woman who can be trusted, a person of honour in his words and character,” Obasanjo said.
