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 confided in
New Telegraph.
