Posted by From GODWIN TSA AND JOHN PAUL SARKI, Abuja on
The Action Congress (AC) has asked the Federal Government to immediately revoke the four radio and television licences which former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly approved for himself a day before leaving office.
The Action Congress (AC) has asked the Federal Government to immediately revoke the four radio and television licences which former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly approved for himself a day before leaving office.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party also called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the award of other broadcast licences, totalling 38, to himself and his cronies, including PDP stalwart, Tony Anenih. AC said the probe must unravel the owners of the other licences which were hurriedly signed on May 28, 2007, whether their applications followed due process and whether they gained an unfair advantage over other applicants.
‘We have always said that this self-professed anti-corruption Czar is himself an epitome of corruption. The signposts were all there, but no one paid attention to the antics of a supposedly graft-fighting president, who acquired 200,000 shares in UBA, acquired huge shares in Transcorp just to name a few.
'What is so urgent about acquiring radio and television licences that cannot wait until he (Obasanjo) has left office, at least to avoid any perception of impropriety by a sitting president?
'We are even more shocked at the fact that Obasanjo most likely sidetracked due process by giving preference to himself and his cronies, when there are dozens of applications now gathering dust at the National Broadcasting Commission waiting for presidential approval,'' AC said. The party said if the rule of law mantra by the Yar'Adua administration is not a ruse, and if it indeed believes no one, no matter how highly placed, is above the law, then it must move quickly to get to the root of the matter.
The party said it is sure the revelation was a tip of the iceberg, adding that more examples of Obasanjo's primitive acquisitions while in office will soon surface to finally confirm his inglorious position as the most corrupt leader to ever rule Nigeria.