Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’abba has
challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to explain his sudden source
of wealth during and after his reign as President of Nigeria.
Na’abba recalled that Obasanjo came out of Prison in 1998 as a poor man,
elected President President of Nigeria and suddenly became rich without
explanation as to his sudden wealth.
“He lacks the credibility to accuse anyone of corruption,” Na’abba opined
in an interaction with journalists over the weekend.
The former Speaker also said that the controversial budget padding could
not have been achieved without backing of some members of the executive
arm.
Speaking further on the allegation of corruption by the former President,
Na’abba said, Obasanjo should explain to Nigerians how he became one of
the richest Nigerians after leaving office, when he had virtually nothing
before he assumed office.
According to him, “I don’t think there is anybody that is more corrupt in
this country like the former President. I believe you are talking about
the former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“As the Speaker, I took Obasanjo on various expenditure offences which he
committed, which he could not defend and didn’t show any remorse. In fact,
that is why sometimes in 2002, the National Assembly tried to impeach him.
“So, he has not got the integrity to call anybody corrupt. This is a man
who became the president with nothing, today he is one of the richest
Nigerians. Let him explain to Nigerians how he acquired all these
wealth,”Na’Abba said.
On the alleged sharing of money during tenure elongation to members of the
National Assembly, Na’abba said: “I am aware that, during the tenure
elongation attempt of Obasanjo, money was shared to the members of the
National Assembly. It was alleged that, the Senators collected N50million,
House of Representatives members collected N40million. But I also know
that, it was not all the members that collected this money. Some of them
collected, some of them did not. But, I am aware that money was shared.”
On padding row in the House of Representatives, Na’abba said, if items of
expenditure were actually added without knowledge of other members of the
house, it amounts to padding, which according to him is illegal.
Reacting to the insinuation by the Speaker Yakubu Dogara that padding was
not an offence, Ghali Na’abba said, “It all depends from what angle one is
looking at it. The responsibility for appropriation in this country
belongs to the National Assembly, So, there is no way that the National
Assembly can vote anything and it will be called padding.”
“If you are talking about padding, which I believe is generally accepted
to be illegal, it must be a situation whereby certain members of the
National Assembly will add certain items of expenditure behind their
colleagues. If any item of expenditure is added behind other members, then
that item can be said to be illegal and it can be called padding, the
former Speaker stated.