President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday directed the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to investigate some of the allegations raised in the letter written to him by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
The former President had written an 18-page open letter to Jonathan, accusing him of incompetence, engaging in anti-party activities, ethnicism and training about 1,000 snipers ahead of the 2015 polls.
Though Jonathan, denied the allegations contained in Obasanjo’s letter in his own response, he directed the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN), to forward the letter to the commission for investigations.
The memo with number HAGF/NHRC2013/Vol2/5 read in part; Re: Before It Is Too Late
“May I draw your attention to the above and the attached State House Memorandum dated December 23rd, 2013 in respect of the above subject matter.
“I am to request you to investigate the allegations bordering on human rights violations contained on pages 9-10 of the latter dated 2nd December, 2013, written by former President Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR) to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, attached to the memorandum under reference.
“In order to properly delineate the issues within your sphere of competence particularly as other issues raised in the letter are being investigated by appropriate agencies of government, I have decided to reproduce the relevant paragraphs below.
According to Adoke, the paragraphs to be investigated by the commission are: “Allegations of keeping over 1,000 people on political watch list rather than criminal or security watch list, and training snipers and other armed personnel secretly and clandestinely acquiring weapons for them like Abacha, and training them where Abacha trained his own killers, if it is true, cannot augur well for the initiator, the government and people of Nigeria.
Here again, there is lesson to learn for anybody who cares to learn from history. Mr. President would always remember that he was elected to maintain security for all Nigerians for personal or political ambition or interest of anyone.
The Yoruba race adage says “the man with whose head coconut is broken may not live to savour the taste of the succulent fruit”. Those who advise you to go hard on those who oppose you are your worst enemies.
Democratic politics admits and is permissible of supporters and opponents. When the consequences come, those who have wrongly advised you will not be there to help carry the can. Egypt must teach some lessons.
Stay updated with Abusidiqu.com, a member of the NIGERIANEWSBEAT team. Follow us on TWITTER or be our fan on FACEBOOK
Do not hesitate to leave your opinion in the comment section below.
To contact Abusidiqu.com for Article Submission and Advertisement or General inquiry, send a mail to info@abusidiqu.com
