Obasanjo To Jonathan: ‘Keep Your Reply, Save Nigeria!’

As the Presidency prepares a reply to the
18-page letter written by former President
Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck
Jonathan on the state of the nation,
indications emerged, yesterday, that the
former leader was not expecting any reply
but action from Jonathan.
A competent source told Sunday
Vanguard that Obasanjo was more
interested in Jonathan addressing the
core issues he raised in his letter rather
than getting a reply to his damning
missive, entitled, ‘Before it is too late’.
The source, which also denied any
breakfast meeting between Obasanjo and
Jonathan in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya,
said the story was made up by those who
tried to play down the importance of the
former leader’s letter.
The source said,”The truth of the matter
is that former President Obasanjo is not
expecting President Jonathan to reply
him. Absolutely no. The President did not
consider it needful to respond to previous
letters privately written to him by the
former head of state and he does not
expect any reply to this one.
“I can tell you that Obasanjo wrote the
letter with the best intentions for
Jonathan and Nigeria and what he wants
from the President is courageous and
timely actions to save Nigeria from the
brink. That’s all.
“Obasanjo will be a happy Nigerian if
appropriate steps are taken by President
Jonathan to address the burning issues of
corruption and other challenges that
threaten to bring this country down.
“There is absolutely no reason to expect a
reply from the Presidency when previous
letters written to him were not even
acknowledged.”
It was however learnt, at the weekend,
that presidential aides have drafted a
response to Obasanjo’s letter. The
response was said to be awaiting
Jonathan’s approval.
Asked to justify the breakfast parley
between the former President and
Jonathan in Kenya on the day the
bromide of Obasanjo’s letter was feasted
on by the media, the source said there
was no meeting between the two leaders.
The source said that Obasanjo and
Jonathan only met by chance and
exchanged pleasantries as they lodged in
the same hotel in Nairobi.
Obasanjo stirred controversy when he
wrote a letter to Jonathan drawing his
attention to myriad of issues capable of
taking Nigeria to the brink if not
addressed.
But the Presidency fired back, describing
the letter as inciting, provocative and self-
serving. Presidential spokesman, Reuben
Abati, who’s issued a statement, indicated
that Jonathan would make a formal
response but did not say when he would
do so.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/12/
obasanjo-fires-warns-jonathan-keep-
reply-save-nigeria/