By Danlami Nmodu
President Goodluck Jonathan has reiterated his assertion that he has no intention of probing Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime.Reactiong to reports that incumbent may be moving against the ex president,Presidential Spokesman ,Reuben Abati said in a statement today that “The Presidency is constrained to state once again that there is no truth whatsoever to rehashed reports in the media today that President Goodluck Jonathan intends to order a probe of the Obasanjo Administration because of the former President’s “constant” criticisms of the Federal Government.
Abati said Jonathan remains fully focused on the urgent tasks of assuring peace, security and stability across the country to create the right conditions for rapid socio-economic development and will not be distracted from this objective by futile attempts to drive a wedge between him and other respected elders and leaders of his party.
“The President has nothing but the greatest respect for Chief Obasanjo’s very notable contributions to national growth and development over many years and far from taking offence or seeking retaliation, will always welcome objective criticism and advice from the very highly-regarded elder statesman.”Abati said.
He added, “What is more, President Jonathan regards his Administration as a continuation of the unbroken chain of PDP-led governments started by Chief Obasanjo in 1999 which have worked tirelessly to entrench democratic governance and achieve rapid socio-economic growth in the country.
The president said “Rather than order a pointless probe of his predecessors, he will continue to do his utmost best to build on the solid foundations for national progress laid under previous PDP administrations.
“Speculations and suggestions of an impending probe of the Obasanjo Administration by President Jonathan are therefore nonsensical and should be dismissed by all right-thinking Nigerians as the product of the fertile imagination of mischievous political jobbers”,the statement said.
There has been a seeming cold war between President Jonathan and ex President Obasanjo.But the presidency has repeatedly claimed the relationship between the two remains cordial, despite evident tension as the intrigues over 2015 presidential race gather momentum.
