ADVERTISEMENT

How Obasanjo protected saboteurs of Nigeria’s power sector

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, says ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo allegedly protected the saboteurs of Nigeria's power sector.

Speaking at the Freedom Park in Lagos on Thursday, August 2, 2018, Soyinka cautioned the opposition parties in Nigeria against losing their grip to Obasanjo.

“Obasanjo isn’t a stupid man but reads the wind and move in,” Soyinka said. “He is busy hijacking existing movements. And that is why I have warned many that have movement and that includes him, to be careful because he could hijack them.

‘’He frustrated June 12 and often put himself forward on any issue. He is welcome to reform and as his slogan maybe, the redemption process has started,” he added.

ADVERTISEMENT

Soyinka berated Obasanjo for the treatment he meted out to Late Bola Ige over the power sector crisis.

“I was very involved in Bola Ige’s stint as the Minister of Power. After Ige died, Obasanjo claimed that the deceased never knew his left from his right,” Soyinka said.

"I found that statement unforgivable. He owes him for maligning him and sabotaging his genuine and structured efforts to transform the power sector of the country.

“I was here when Ige moved his office to Lagos to solve the power problem of Nigeria. He deliberately sabotaged the efforts of the late minister. Before Ige took office, he summoned a group of experts and mapped out strategy to transform the power sector.

"But he was sabotaged from the inside because he begged me to persuade Obasanjo to remove Sulaiman Bello from office.

ADVERTISEMENT

“This was the man he believed was used to sabotage his efforts and the consequence we are still suffering today. Obasanjo protected the saboteurs of the power sector and that is why I challenged him to engage me publicly.”

Soyinka maintained that he could not remember the good things Obasanjo did during his tenures as President.

“I don’t remember the good he has done. It will be very difficult to find one. I can’t remember one at this moment. There are many groups emerging with very good manifesto and it is a long time between now and next year. The field is widely open,” he advised.

Soyinka had blamed the killings in Nigeria on President Muhammadu Buhari as at when due.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng

Recommended articles

INEC declares Nwifuru of APC as Ebonyi governor-elect

INEC declares Nwifuru of APC as Ebonyi governor-elect

Zamfara Speaker losses re-election bid

Zamfara Speaker losses re-election bid

Africa will be among leading countries shaping world order – Putin

Africa will be among leading countries shaping world order – Putin

Bauchi residents celebrate Mohammed’s victory

Bauchi residents celebrate Mohammed’s victory

Bomb blast kills mother, 5 children in Afghanistan

Bomb blast kills mother, 5 children in Afghanistan

BREAKING: INEC suspends collation of guber election results in Abia, Enugu LGAs

BREAKING: INEC suspends collation of guber election results in Abia, Enugu LGAs

Guber Election: PDP, LP supporters protest against INEC in Enugu

Guber Election: PDP, LP supporters protest against INEC in Enugu

Kano residents task governor-elect on education, healthcare

Kano residents task governor-elect on education, healthcare

Tinubu-led presidency will address ethnic, religious bigotry - Canada APC Chairman

Tinubu-led presidency will address ethnic, religious bigotry - Canada APC Chairman

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT