(Being text of a letter I wrote to former President Olusegun Obasanjo on September 25, 2005)

Due to the exigency of the time, I have decided to reproduce here a copy of the letter I wrote to then President Olusegun Obasanjo, admonishing him on the need to prosecute the war against corruption with all the se­riousness and honesty it deserved. The letter was prompted by a deliberate ploy by Obasanjo to use the Economic and Finan­cial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to settle personal scores, particularly when he had made up his mind to run for a third term. Some governors, particularly me, opposed to his Third Term bid, were marked for persecution.

In fact, there was no basis whatsoever to link my name with corruption after he had christened me ‘Action Governor of Nige­ria’ less than one year in office as governor. How I turned a corrupt governor overnight in the sight of Obasanjo still baffles me.

Those who knew me very well and what I went through running the affairs of Abia State for the 8 years I was in the saddle would agree that I applied rare ingenuity and courage to achieve the much we did.

Despite the huge debt profile of the state at the time we assumed office we were able to place the state in an enviable position by the time our tenure ended. We did not leave anybody in doubt about our commitment to transform Abia State. I thank God we suc­ceeded.

Read the letter meticulously and you would see clearly that I told Obasanjo the gospel truth. I did not harbour any ill-inten­tion or malice in doing the letter to him. It was rather borne out of a genuine feeling of empathy, knowing that the path he had chosen to tread would lead him to perdition.

My relationship with Obasanjo was like a father/son tie built on mutual trust, respect and dignity. But the way he paid me back for all the good deeds I did to him amazes me. So, I have been kept wondering if it still pays to do goodness to others.

But what can one do? Doing goodness has become a part of me. I have done so all my life. Is it now I am nearing 60 years that I should stop?

I have left Obasanjo to his conscience and God. That is if he has any conscience at all. I know that the God I serve will exoner­ate me in the end.

I wish to state unequivocally that I am not a corrupt person. How could I be cor­rupt when I have not done one kobo govern­ment contract. I have been involved in buy­ing and selling all my life. And I thank God for that. All that I have acquired in life have been through hard work and resilience.

Did the same Obasanjo not do every­thing possible to destroy my businesses? He revoked my oil licences, the licences of my airline and bank. Yet he was not done. He did many other unprintable things to get at me, but my God thwarted all his plans.

I have strong faith in God as a just and unbiased arbiter. His judgment has no ap­peal. When this judgment comes I am sure that I will be vindicated.

The letter:

September 25, 2005

His Excellency

Chief Olusegun M. Obasanjo, GCFR

President and Commander-in-Chief

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Presidential Villa

Abuja

Your Excellency,

I write you this letter with a deep sense of patriotism, and without any malice, bit­terness or personal antagonism. As a prac­tising Christian and as a man fully raised and entrenched in the best traditions of honour and faith, I detest sycophancy and the aggrandisement of self in all their reflec­tions. This, Mr President, is precisely why I have always offered to tell you the truth, no matter how bitter it may be and regardless of any adverse consequences to myself.

I may not be in your good books or en­joy your goodwill, even though I made huge personal sacrifices and contributed significantly, in material and human energy terms, to your rehabilitation from prison and to your presidential campaign in 1999. You would recall that you told me in my private home in Victoria Island, Lagos, in 1998 that you had only N20,000 to call your own in this whole wide world. I gave you my solid assurance of material support and proceed­ed to keep my promise over and above the call of political comradeship.

All of that is now history and I happily surrender my dealings with you to the su­preme and final judgment of the Almighty. It is a matter of immense joy to me that, at the very least, you have acknowledged, on a number of occasions, both publicly and pri­vately, that I am one of the few Nigerian cit­izens you could count on to speak the bold truth to you at all times and without any let or hindrance; nor with fear or expectations of favour.

It is now about four years since your administration embarked upon its anti-cor­ruption crusade. Fire and brimstone have been threatened; there have been swagger and pretensions of a national revolution against corruption. However, I deeply regret to observe that the campaign has not yielded the desired results because the entire effort lacks focus and a strong foundation right from the outset.

The unrelenting resentment of the so-called anti-corruption campaign by many Nigerians, including the media, is attribut­able to the fact that they see it as a deliber­ate ploy to witch-hunt and muzzle perceived political enemies. This fear by Nigerians finds manifest expression in the selective nature in which some citizens are subjected to harassment and obnoxious public cam­paign of calumny, even before any indict­ments are brought against them. The list of those targeted for this treatment makes a perfect roll-call of Obasanjo’s political op­ponents.

The high-handed, draconian, and com­mando-like operations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Com­mission (ICPC) have, thus far, negated all that our constitution and democracy stand for. They do not hide their bias, nor do they function within the ambits of the laws setting them up. And I must point out, of course, that the establishment of the two in­stitutions is a mere duplication since there are existing provisions in our legislation to deal effectively with the mischief which these bodies are purportedly set up to tackle.

In any case, the most preposterous and incredulous aspect of your anti-corruption campaign is that while the media is awash with stories connected with the activities of EFCC and ICPC, corruption is taking root and multiplying daily in many federal estab­lishments, including Aso Villa, the very seat of power where you reside. I have repeat­edly made the observation that corruption is rife among senior officials of government, especially those at the federal level, and among your friends, your business associ­ates and cronies.

Around you and in your name has coa­lesced a few powerful brokers of corrupt practices who peddle your influence and extract billions of naira in the form of oil & gas and defence contract commissions. The budget is manipulated at the National As­sembly with the active connivance of your surrogates and a few senators, thereby cart­ing away billions of naira through contract padding or inflation. The felonious activities of this cabal, including the foreign accounts of some of your aides, serving and former ministers, are also well known to the inter­national community. I would be surprised if you feign ignorance of this unfortunate situ­ation.

Astonishingly, you have done nothing visible to extinguish this dangerous and sycophantic phenomenon. It seems that you have deliberately turned a blind eye to the excesses perpetrated by your officials and your proxies because there is incontrovert­ible evidence at my disposal that you are afraid to prosecute them for fear of turning the table against yourself. It surely smacks of double standards at best and utterly hyp­ocritical in the extreme to openly preach against corruption while, in reality, the ma­lignant cancer is festering all around you, drawing its very life blood from the power­ful veins of your office.

A few specific examples are necessary to buttress my case: The Abuja National Stadium. Why was the original design for the stadium which had a five star hotel and which contract was won by a Chinese firm discarded and re-awarded to another for­eign construction company based in Nigeria without the component of a five star hotel but at five times the price originally quoted by the Chinese firm? There is unquestion­able evidence at my disposal pointing to the fact that mega corruption lies at the base of this dramatic turnabout.

Why have the operations of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) remained so murky? Who collected the commissions for the sale of Ajaokuta Steel Company and Delta Steel Rolling Mill, Aladja? To what degree would you, Mr President, defend those transactions as transparent?

Why have you found it difficult, Your Excellency, to probe the activities of the Federal Ministry of Works in spite of my subsisting allegation that the ministry stinks? It is an open secret that the opera­tions of the ministry between 1999 and 2003 were a mired in monumental fraud.

In a media appearance on the Voice of America (VOA) last month, I challenged you to openly declare your assets. An exem­plary leader who is genuinely committed to taking up arms against the invading monster of corruption would have had no hesita­tion in rising to this call. I am saddened to see that up till now, you are yet to do so. By declaring your assets openly, you would have succeeded in dispelling any doubts on the minds of Nigerians and the international community about the sincerity of your anti-corruption crusade.

Mr. President, you will agree with me that there are still many other questions that I would have loved to put across to you. But I have just asked these few to agitate your mind and dismiss your anti-corruption cam­paign as mere window-dressing.

A few other examples will baffle you. Let me ask you: Who owns Bell University and Bell Secondary School? I was shocked when you openly denied ownership of the two institutions and rather ascribed their ownership to Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, onetime Minister of Finance. I wish to put it to you, Mr. President, that I have overwhelming evidence linking you with both institutions.

Who paid for the construction of hostels and gigantic sports complex at the Bell Sec­ondary School? I put it to you, Sir, that both projects were financed with the Nigerian taxpayers’ money through the construction giant, Strabag, five years ago. What role did a former Minister of Sports play in the whole deal? What of the transformation of Ota farm, which is going on at frenetic speed? Who picks the bill? We knew all these things but deliberately chose to keep silent for the sake of peace and out of re­spect for you and your office.

The most pressing question I wish to put to you, Sir, revolves around your long tenure as Nigeria’s Minister of Petroleum Resources since 1999. Why has there not been a properly audited account of the Min­istry of Petroleum Resources since then de­spite the outcries by the people for this to be done? There is indisputable evidence that all the major deals in the nation’s oil sec­tor are being handled by you, through your cronies and agents. What about the leakages and the fraud at the Nigerian National Petro­leum Corporation (NNPC), with particular reference to crude oil sales and the accrued commissions? What have you done to check the malfeasance?

You have, on occasions, accused top gov­ernment functionaries, especially the gover­nors, of owning foreign accounts. Can you, in all sincerity, Sir, swear that you do not own foreign account(s)? There is evidence that you own foreign accounts, including a platinum credit card recently opened for you through which you charge your foreign ac­count and make purchases abroad.

I am deeply troubled by the drift and dangerous direction that things are taking in this country under your leadership. I fear for the masses of our country who live under dehumanising conditions. The economy has virtually collapsed, and the once growing and thriving middle class has been eviscer­ated. Everything is in a shambles, yet, we make millions of dollars daily from crude oil sales. An average Nigerian lives on 60 cents (N78) a day. Is this not a shame and a big scar on our collective psyche?

Mr. President, we simply cannot carry on like this. If we continue this way, then we are invariably inviting anarchy and cata­clysm upon our nation. The patience of Ni­gerians is fast running out, and it behoves you to take the bull by the horns and salvage the situation before it consumes all of us.
As I said at the beginning, this is a message that should challenge your statesmanship and patriotic zeal. You have an opportunity to write your name in gold if you can begin today to make amends. It is absolutely imperative that you redirect your energies to only gainful and edifying activities befitting your exalted office instead of hounding and persecuting innocent citizens just for refusing to dance to your dictates.

I am a straight forward, transparent and focused man. I call a spade a spade not minding whose ox is gored. I have demonstrated this through my dedicated service to the people of my state and through my long and profitable years in the private sector.

I refer you to Galatians 6:7-8, and wish to state in my conclusion that any­body who wants to come to equity must come with clean hands, and those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

You may not bother to like me and I do not crave your affection. But I have written as a senior citizen of this republic troubled by the deplorable state of our union. I sincerely hope that you will pay some heed to my admonitions. In all your dealings with Nigeria and Nigerians, may the burden of your con­science weigh in favour of the interest of our beloved nation!

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours Sincerely,

Orji Uzor Kalu

Executive Governor of Abia State


Source: http://sunnewsonline.com/new/corruption-under-obasanjos-table/

The piece above points us in the direction that we, as a nation, need to look, if we genuinely want answers to our problems. Isn't it high time these corruption-fighting agencies go after the big whale that has negatively inspired its children over time? Saraki, Alamieyeseigha, Ibori, Gbenga Daniel, Kalu and all the politicians that we've been made to believe are corrupt, isn't it obvious they learned from the master thief himself? I think its high time Nigerians start asking the right questions!

Only in Nigeria would you see a Looter conducting Leadership Lectures!!!!

"A criminal writing a letter to another criminal, telling the criminal to fight corruption, is this not a ZOO?" Quote me anywhere.

In fact, there was no basis whatsoever to link my name with corruption after he had christened me ‘Action Governor of Nige­ria’ less than one year in office as governor. How I turned a corrupt governor overnight in the sight of Obasanjo still baffles me.

A signature appended on document can set in motion chains of corrupt deals and it won't take a whole "overnight".

So that's no excuse.

OZAOEKPE:
"A criminal writing a letter to another criminal, telling the criminal to fight corruption, is this not a ZOO?" Quote me anywhere.

Well, I may not dispute your opinion, the problem is just that the master criminal himself is now seen as a saint and the saviour of the world in the present government. I hate the fact that we are being hypocritical. Saraki is no less a corrupt politician than Obasanjo. The evidence are there but Nigerians have decided to be blind to it.

Johniyke2flex:


Well, I may not dispute your opinion, the problem is just that the master criminal himself is now seen as a saint and the saviour of the world in the present government. I hate the fact that we are being hypocritical. Saraki is not less of a currupt politician than Obasanjo. The evidence are there but Nigerians have decided to be blind to it.

"As for saraki, I want him to be tried and jailed. If not for any reason, but for the people of kwara state. I can tell you categorically that saraki is using the 'stars' of all kwarans. The guy has used and still using the destiny of all kwarans residing in ilorin, the people need to be liberated, and if it means jailing him, I welcome the development. Lastly, all those that died and suffered as a result of those banks he wrecked will surely see justice if he's convicted. He's one bloody criminal, he has to pay for those sins, call it witch-hunting or political victimization, I don't care as long as he's convicted I'm in full support". Quote me anywhere.

Kalu should go and clear his corruption allegation. Nonsense

Johniyke2flex:

A few other examples will baffle you. Let me ask you: Who owns Bell University and Bell Secondary School? I was shocked when you openly denied ownership of the two institutions and rather ascribed their ownership to Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, onetime Minister of Finance.

Have Nigerians suddenly gone blind to the fact that these institutions still exist and openly operate as private property of the otta farmer? I really do not wanna call this nation a zoo. God forbid!

OZAOEKPE:

"As for saraki, I want him to be tried and jailed. If not for any reason, but for the people of kwara state. I can tell you categorically that saraki is using the 'stars' of all kwarans. The guy has used and still using the destiny of all kwarans residing in ilorin, the people need to be liberated, and if it means jailing him, I welcome the development. Lastly, all those that died and suffered as a result of those banks he wrecked will surely see justice if he's convicted. He's one bloody criminal, he has to pay for those sins, call it witch-hunting or political victimization, I don't care as long as he's convicted I'm in full support". Quote me anywhere.

Yea that's true! Saraki really deserves all the witch-hunting as long as it serves the purpose of the present government. I see! But if he had listened and followed the dictates of his party am sure you'd be here singing his praise. That's hypocrisy!

Get my point before you continue pls...am not holding forth for any corrupt politician, be it Orji Uzor Kalu or Saraki or even my father if they have stollen public funds, I'll be very happy to see them put behind bars if their cases are taken up and proven beyond reasonable doubt. What I am against is the continuous selective fight against corruption that this administration has undertaken.

Can u remind me the reason why Obasanjo, Amaechi and all the APC loyalists are not being looked into again. I might have forgoten.

Chosen1984:
Only in Nigeria would you see a Looter conducting Leadership Lectures!!!!

Yea! Funny country! But I am sure u'll be very comfortable worshipping in a church that has Obasanjo as its Senior Pastor!

Johniyke2flex:


Yea! Funny country! But I am sure u'll be very comfortable worshipping in a church that has Obasanjo as its Senior Pastor!

Johni i no get u at all