All Progressives Congress (APC) Vice Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi
Osinbajo (SAN), has alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan is the
first and only Nigerian leader to have attended a meeting of the
Organisation of Islamic Countries (IOC).
It would be recalled that Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s enlisted Nigeria into OIC through military fiat in 1986.
Osinbajo disclosed this at an interactive session with professionals
in Warri, Delta State. He said those accusing Gen. Mohammadu Buhari of
being a Muslim fundamentalist and campaigner of Islamisation of Nigeria
are distorting history against this backdrop.
Osinbajo said, “Throughout his period as military head of state, Gen.
Buhari was under intense pressure to drag Nigeria into the IOC, but he
never yielded because he respects Nigeria as a secular state in line
with the constitution. Besides, his cook and driver are Christians.
“When Gen. Babangida eventually dragged Nigeria into IOC a, none of
the successors ever attended any of its meeting because they know to
Islamise Nigeria is very difficult as you need to first get the
constitution amended. That process, you know, is almost impossible.
“But it is on record that in 2013, President Jonathan, undermining
the constitutional limitation, ensured that Nigeria attended an IOC
meeting.”
Osinbajo during the visit to Warri also called on the Chief Tuesday
Onoge-led faction of the divided Urhobo Progress Union (UPU), where he
talked on the imperative for men of integrity to start leading in
Nigeria.
He told the Onoge’s UPU leadership: “We are aware of Ovwiamuge
Declaration. APC is grateful that there are men of integrity like you
who would still stick their necks out to stand on the side of integrity
to uphold the truth in the face of mindless compromise.”
Osibanjo also condemned stealing of public money.
He said stealing of public fund makes it impossible for government to
work properly. “We are not running a normal government. Resources are
largely stolen. One billion from excess crude unaccounted for, which
country in the world loses 400000b/d of oil daily? Only in Nigeria. No
oil theft without official complicity. APC government will hold those
with statutory responsibility responsible.”
“The Nigeria Army is not equipped. If you follow the mutiny trials,
the soldiers are saying they are not equipped and government is saying
four trillion on defense. There is no other army where you are trying
the army who do not have guns. Twenty six per cent of Nigeria
government is taken over by militia. You cannot have two centres of
authority in one country. They must first deal with corruption in
defense spending and poverty among the youths being recruited. It is a
function of corruption.
“I have not heard of a proper audit of NDDC, NNPC, things are done on
man know man basis, you put someone there and you don’t care if he does
the job.”
Osibanjo thanked Onoge and his group for supporting Ovwiamuge declaration and the APC first beneficiary of the declaration.
Source: Dailyindependentnig.com
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