A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State, Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma, is of the view that the security agencies should immediately invite former President Olusegun Obasanjo for interrogation over his claim that President Goodluck Jonathan is training snipers.
The former President had in his letter to President Jonathan titled “Before it is too late” claimed that the snipers would be used to attack no fewer than 1000 persons said to be on political watch list ahead of 2015 election.
Agbonayinma, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), noted that the allegation was weighty and capable of creating panic among the citizenry.
According to him, “the Presidency must not allow former President Olusegun Obasanjo to enjoy the luxury of making such sensitive and weighty allegation that has implications for security of lives and move on as if has offered a noble public service.”
The PDP Chieftain recalled how several perceived political opponents of the former President were allegedly attacked and some died in the process.
He said, “Obasanjo should be invited to provide useful information about his training of snipers claim, where they are being trained and the 1000 persons on the presidency watch list because, to me, the claim appears tendentious, mischievous and inciting.
“I have not forgotten the Obasanjo years when real and perceived political opponents were taken out in a series of assassination incidents in which the killers have not, up till now, been apprehended. As of today, the killers of Chief Bola Ige, who served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General in Obasanjo’s government, who was murdered in his Ibadan home, are yet to be.
“Was it not under the Obasanjo administration that yet-to-be-apprehended gunmen killed Chief Marshal Harry, a one-time South-south leader of the PDP, who later moved to the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) to support General Muhammadu Buhari’s presidential ambition in 2003? What of another South-south PDP leader, Chief Aminasori Kala Dikibo who was also killed on his way from Port-Harcourt to Delta for a party meeting?”
Agbonayinma also recalled how gunmen stormed the Maitama, Abuja private residence of the late Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) Chairman, Chief Sunday Awoniyi in a bid to silence him for his criticisms of the Obasanjo administration.
“There were many other instances of unresolved killings and even genocides perpetrated under the Obasanjo administration. I have not forgotten what happened in Odi in Bayelsa State and Zaki Biam in Benue State. The Odi and Zaki Biam massacres were state sponsored. They were obviously more than snipers’ assaults.
“In fact, the only way to know whether Obasanjo’s claim is unfounded is to interrogate the claimant and his claim. He should be invited by relevant security agencies to validate his claim in the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians and his claim, of found to be untrue, would amount to treason.
“What exactly is cooking or what is on the ground in relation to the alarm raised by Obasanjo”, he queried.
