I have no intention to probe Obasanjo – President Jonathan

The Presidency has denied media reports that President Goodluck Jonathan was planning to probe the activities of former President Obasanjo administration over the latter’s ‘constant’ criticisms of the present government.


The presidency in statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, insisted that it had nothing but “the greatest respect for Chief Obasanjo’s very notable contributions to national growth and development.”

President Jonathan and former President Obasanjo

The statement described the speculations and suggestions of an impending probe of the Obasanjo administration by President Jonathan as “nonsensical and should be dismissed by all right-thinking Nigerians as the product of the fertile imagination of mischievous political jobbers”

“President Jonathan remains fully focused on the urgent tasks of assuring peace, security and stability across the country to create the right conditions for rapid socio-economic development and will not be distracted from this objective by futile attempts to drive a wedge between him and other respected elders and leaders of his party.

“The President has nothing but the greatest respect for Chief 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 criticism 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 Chief 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”, the statement reiterated.