Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that in spite of his warning to Goodluck Jonathan about the risk of giving Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke important portfolio, he went ahead to ignore him.
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he advised ex-President Goodluck Jonathan against giving Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke a critical portfolio but he refused to listent to him.
“He (Jonathan) gave me the impression that he was not going to give her the portfolio (petroleum ministry), but at the end, he did and we can see the consequences. He, of course, knew what he was doing,” he stated.
Obasanjo further revealed the grounds he had to clear in order to ensure that Jonathan emerged as the President.
"In 2011, I pleaded with prominent northerners to let Jonathan run for a term" he said.
Obasanjo also explained why he supported Jonathan to contest the 2011 presidential election. He said he pleaded with prominent people in the North to allow Jonathan run for a term.
The former President explained that he met with many northern leaders to explain to them why he endorsed Jonathan for the 2011 presidential election.
Obasanjo stated, “I saw the emergence of Jonathan as an opportunity to solve the problem of minority agitation. The three majority ethnic groups in Nigeria can always sort themselves out, but not so for the minority.
“A good example is my state here in Ogun. Despite the best intentions, nobody from Ogun West has been able to become governor because of this minority issue and it will take a conscious effort to make it happen. So, it was in that contest that I had to plead with prominent people in the North to allow Jonathan run for a term.”
