Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na\u2019abba has<\/p>\n
challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to explain his sudden source
\nof wealth during and after his reign as President of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Na\u2019abba recalled that Obasanjo came out of Prison in 1998 as a poor man,
\nelected President President of Nigeria and suddenly became rich without
\nexplanation as to his sudden wealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe lacks the credibility to accuse anyone of corruption,\u201d Na\u2019abba opined
\nin an interaction with journalists over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The former Speaker also said that the controversial budget padding could
\nnot have been achieved without backing of some members of the executive
\narm.<\/p>\n
Speaking further on the allegation of corruption by the former President,
\nNa\u2019abba said, Obasanjo should explain to Nigerians how he became one of
\nthe richest Nigerians after leaving office, when he had virtually nothing
\nbefore he assumed office.<\/p>\n
According to him, \u201cI don\u2019t think there is anybody that is more corrupt in
\nthis country like the former President. I believe you are talking about
\nthe former President Olusegun Obasanjo.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the Speaker, I took Obasanjo on various expenditure offences which he
\ncommitted, which he could not defend and didn\u2019t show any remorse. In fact,
\nthat is why sometimes in 2002, the National Assembly tried to impeach him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, he has not got the integrity to call anybody corrupt. This is a man
\nwho became the president with nothing, today he is one of the richest
\nNigerians. Let him explain to Nigerians how he acquired all these
\nwealth,\u201dNa\u2019Abba said.<\/p>\n
On the alleged sharing of money during tenure elongation to members of the
\nNational Assembly, Na\u2019abba said: \u201cI am aware that, during the tenure
\nelongation attempt of Obasanjo, money was shared to the members of the
\nNational Assembly. It was alleged that, the Senators collected N50million,
\nHouse of Representatives members collected N40million. But I also know
\nthat, it was not all the members that collected this money. Some of them
\ncollected, some of them did not. But, I am aware that money was shared.\u201d<\/p>\n
On padding row in the House of Representatives, Na\u2019abba said, if items of
\nexpenditure were actually added without knowledge of other members of the
\nhouse, it amounts to padding, which according to him is illegal.<\/p>\n
Reacting to the insinuation by the Speaker Yakubu Dogara that padding was
\nnot an offence, Ghali Na\u2019abba said, \u201cIt all depends from what angle one is
\nlooking at it. The responsibility for appropriation in this country
\nbelongs to the National Assembly, So, there is no way that the National
\nAssembly can vote anything and it will be called padding.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are talking about padding, which I believe is generally accepted
\nto be illegal, it must be a situation whereby certain members of the
\nNational Assembly will add certain items of expenditure behind their
\ncolleagues. If any item of expenditure is added behind other members, then
\nthat item can be said to be illegal and it can be called padding, the
\nformer Speaker stated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na\u2019abba has challenged former President Olusegun Obasanjo to explain his sudden source of wealth during and after his reign as President…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4662,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n