I won't probe Obasanjo -Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Saturday said contrary to media reports (not The PUNCH), he had no intention of probing the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Jonathan made the clarification in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

He said he was constrained to state again that there was no truth in reports on Saturday, that he intends to probe the Obasanjo administration because of the former President's constant criticisms of the Federal Government.

He said rather than probing Obasanjo, he remained fully focused on the tasks of ensuring peace, security and stability across the country in order to create the right conditions for rapid socio-economic development.

The President said he would not be distracted from this objective by attempts to drive a wedge between him, respected elders and leaders of his party.

The statement read in part, "The President has nothing but the greatest respect for Obasanjo's very notable contributions to national growth and development over many years and far from taking offence or seeking retaliation, will always welcome objective criticisms and advice from the very highly-regarded elder statesman.

"What is more, President Jonathan regards his administration as a continuation of the unbroken chain of PDP-led governments started by Obasanjo in 1999 which have worked tirelessly to entrench democratic governance and achieve rapid socio-economic growth in the country.

"Rather than order a pointless probe of his predecessors, he will continue to do his utmost best to build on the solid foundations for national progress laid under previous PDP administrations.

"Speculations and suggestions of an impending probe of the Obasanjo administration by President Jonathan are therefore nonsensical and should be dismissed by all right-thinking Nigerians as the product of the fertile imagination of mischievous political jobbers."



Punch