The Bayelsa State former Governor, Diepreye Aliamieyeseigha, at the weekend described former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as an autocratic individual looking for national sympathy. Reacting to Obasanjo's
controversial letter to Jonathan, the former governor said it was laughable that the former president was now acting like a saint and "Mr.-Know-it-all".
In a chat with newsmen in Yenagoa at the weekend, Alams as fondly called, said Obasanjo was mischievous in writing such letter to the President.
"In my objective opinion, I will say President Jonathan and his aides should look at it and make a proper analysis of the content.
"But my grouse with the entire scenario is that the approach to writing the letter to President Jonathan is very mischievous and there is clear bias and sentiments in the circumstance which has caused it to generate some controversy", he said.
According to him, the letter would not in any way affect the chance of President Jonathan in the 2015 elections, as the ex-Head of State does not control Nigerians.
He wondered why Obasanjo would attack Jonathan over insecurity and other issues on governance, asking him to give account of what he did in those areas in his eight years in office after return of democracy.
He recalled that Obasanjo was a very autocratic ruler contrary to his current democratic stance.
On the allegation that Jonathan was training snipers ahead of the 2015 elections, Aliamieyeseigha asked Obasanjo to compare the number of prominent persons that were killed during his tenure and how many had been killed under the present political dispensation.
"At least, as a former Governor, I will say that I have encountered Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
"The Obasanjo I know, when he was the President of this country, had displayed all the things he is alleging against Jonathan even more than any other leader in this country.
"There is no issue he has raised in his letter that he did not do when he was at the head of government in this country.
"That is why am insisting that Chief Obasanjo is mischievous in his intent of writing the letter to Goodluck and leaking it to the press.
"Chief Obasanjo's character is that if it is not him, it should be nobody else. He is 'Mr Know all'.
"He will call you for a meeting to come and brainstorm to proffer solutions to a problem. He will tell you about the problem and proffer solution without giving you room to make any contribution to what he invited you to. That is his character.
"Obasanjo is not Nigeria. He alone cannot tell the citizens what to do. Remember he lost election in his own village. That is how unpopular he is even up till today or tomorrow. But Nigerians still voted for him.
"His disposition cannot significantly affect the electoral fortunes of Jonathan. It is God who gives power. If God so desire that Jonathan will continue in office, then his aspiration will come to fruition.
"Jonathan has done much more than any other president has done. Let us support and encourage him instead of trying to pull him down by whipping up sentiments", Aliamieyeseigha said.
He added: "Today he (Obasanjo) is talking about Goodluck Jonathan training snipers or whatever he calls it and having a watch list.
"How many high profile persons have been killed during Goodluck Jonathan's time compared to the long list of great men who were killed during his time as President of the country?
"Has he forgotten about Bola Ige, what happened to Marshall Harry, Dikibo, Funsho Williams? I can go on and on. Who had the sharp shooters that killed all these prominent Nigerians and what has been the outcome of their investigations?
"If I may ask again, what is the rationale behind Chief Obasanjo copying two former military rulers and T.Y Danjuma in his letter? I'm sure his reference to Dr. Ekweme is only an after thought.
"It surprises me that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is the one insinuating about the aspiration of President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015.
"To be precise, on 18th of August 2005, then President Obasanjo called me into his inner office and asked me why I was supporting his Vice, Atiku Abubakar.
"He offered to give me whatever I would have benefited supporting Atiku. He told me that if I don't work for him (Obasanjo) it's possible he will give it to my deputy.
"He had explained to me that he is not the oldest President in Africa and that he wants to continue for an extended tenure in office.
"He told me not to support a bloody civilian like Atiku Abubakar and that I should work with him to actualise his ambition. Today, he is denying everywhere that he never wanted a third term in office.
"Am also very surprised that Chief Obasanjo is talking about drift in governance and development. Since 1999 after Chief Obasanjo assumed office, he was only globe trotting. It was Atiku that was running the country.
"Nothing had happened. Obasanjo did not achieve anything as a President during his first tenure in the name of laundering the image of the country", he added.
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