Posted by By Henry Ojelu on
The dust raised over the controversial presidential library project executed by former president Olusegun Obasanjo may not have settled, as foremost journalist, writer and renowned author, Mr. Kunle Ajibade, has asked a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, to declare the project a property of the Federal Government.
The dust raised over the controversial presidential library project executed by former president Olusegun Obasanjo may not have settled, as foremost journalist, writer and renowned author, Mr. Kunle Ajibade, has asked a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, to declare the project a property of the Federal Government.
Joined as defendants in the suit filed by human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, on behalf of Mr. Ajibade, are the Attorney-General of the Federation and the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO
Mr. Ajibade, who is also the Executive Editor of TheNews magazine, is praying the court to, among other things, compel Obasanjo to forfeit the library to the Federal Government, since he used his position as a serving president to raise funds for the project.
Some of the reliefs being sought by Ajibade include: A declaration that the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun state, is the property of the Federal Government by virtue of Section 10 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act and paragraph 6 of Part 1 of the 5th schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999;
A declaration that the proposal of the third defendant (UNESCO), to establish an institute in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, is illegal as it violates Article 1 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption which provides for the freezing, seizure, confiscation and return of the proceeds of corruption;
An order directing the Federal Government to acquire and take over the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library forthwith;
An order restraining the third defendant whether by itself, agents and privies from establishing any institute in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.'
He also wants the court to determine these questions:
Whether the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library lying and being at Abeokuta, Ogun state, is not a property of the Federal Government of Nigeria by virtue of paragraph 6 of the 5th schedule to the 1999 Constitution states that 'any gift or donation to a public officer on any public or ceremonial occasion shall be treated as a gift to the appropriate institution represented by the public officer;
Whether the refusal of the Federal Government to acquire the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is not illegal and unconstitutional;
Whether the plan of the third defendant to establish an institute in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is not a violation of the United Nations Against Corruption. No date has been fixed for hearing on the matter.
Former president Obasanjo has been making attempts to seek UNESCO world heritage centre recognition for the library and this has attracted a lot of condemnation from all quarters. Professor Wole Soyinka is one of those opposed to Obasanjo's quest for UNESCO recogniton for his N7 billion library.
The Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library project was launched on 14 May, 2005, in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state. Part of the event involved a ground breaking ceremony that was performed by president Olusegun Obasanjo.
Also present at the event were: Then Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakarl; the governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; the governor of Delta State, Chief James Onanefe Ibori; the governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha; the governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Sani Ahmed Yerima; the Commerce Minister, Ambassador Adamu; Chief Ernest Shonekan, Chairman of Nigeria's former Interim National Government (1993); Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Austin Opara.
The library complex, which was located on the outskirts of Abeokuta, and founded on three philosophical cornerstones: leadership, transparency and agriculture. These are also the three main principles that inform the policies of Obasanjo and his Administration.
The complex, which is patterned after the United States (US) Presidential Library concept pioneered by president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, is divided into three major sections: The main museum/library, recreation and leisure services and the Housing/support facilities.
The museum/library is located on a rocky elevated zone, and provides the type of isolated tranquillity necessary for scholarship and museum appreciation. Aside from the library, the museum and other archival amenities, this section also comprise a centre for research, seminars and workshops.
The museum is designed to carry significant documents, photographs, films, video tapes, sound recordings and memorabilia that depict stages of the President's public life, as well as important policies and decisions of this Administration. The proposed Library's auditorium is expected to accommodate up to 1500 people and will also retain 144 research fellow/guest charlets.
In all, the Presidential Library will hold presidential files and papers that cover public policy issues, while the archives will act as a repository for Obasanjo's presidential papers and historical materials.
The project, according to its trustees, would fend for itself through the offer of services, including: Guest houses, Cyber café, Publishing resources, Souvenir/gift shops, Auditorium for seminars/workshops, exhibitions, social events, Museum, Amphitheatre,Restaurant, Park/garden, Artificial lake/stream/waterfall, Zoo and Gym/keep-fit centre for recreation.
Members of the Board of Trustees are Ambassador Christopher Kolade, Nigeria's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) (Chairman); Mr Carl Masters (American), (Co-Chairman); Ogun state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; Honourable Vernon Jordan (American), former Adviser to president Bill Clinton; Mr Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic Airlines; Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, Minister of Finance, under the Buhari Administration; Mr Jim Ovia, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Zenith International Bank; Dr Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, former Ogun state Commissioner for Health and Mr Nyaknno Osso, the President's librarian (Secretary).