Posted by By ISMAIL OMIPIDAN, Abuja on
Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, is hopping mad over allegations last week by President Olusegun Obasanjo that he was removed from office two years ago over corruption.
Former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, is hopping mad over allegations last week by President Olusegun Obasanjo that he was removed from office two years ago over corruption.
Belching smoke from the nostrils, Wabara released a statement on Sunday, in which he said the president lied over the circumstances in which he left office as Senate President in 2005.
"I want to put it on record that I resigned my position as the president of the senate as a result of the need to protect the institution of the legislature, which I was the head then.
I was not dealt with as stated by the president … I do take exceptions to the perpetual penchant to use my name to score cheap international political points in the government's advertised fight against corruption."
Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, says that contrary to President Olusegun Obasanjo's allegation that he lost his position as the number three citizen of the country owing to corruption, he personally bowed out of office two years ago so as to ensure that his office did not interfere with the course of justice.
Obasanjo had, last Thursday, in an attempt to justify the Federal Government's onslaught on Vice President Atiku Abubakar, disclosed that if a former Senate president could be 'dealt with" over allegation of corruption, he saw no reason Atiku should be spared.
In a press release personally signed by Senator Wabara and made available to Daily Sun on Sunday evening, the former number three citizen said that while it was true that he left office over allegation of corruption, it would be sub judice for anyone to draw conclusion on a matter still before the court, even as he observed that the type of attention given to his case was never accorded the N83 billion scandal at the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
Said he: 'On Friday, January 26, 2007, Nigerian newspapers were awash with statements credited to President Olusegun Obasanjo, which made uncomplimentary remarks about my person as far as the anti-corruption war of the government is concerned.
'I want to put it on record that I resigned my position as the president of the Senate on April 5, 2005 as a result of the need to protect the institution of the legislature, which I was the head then. I was not dealt with as stated by the president. I resigned my position and neither was I impeached. It is also on record that I delivered a well-received speech on that day to state the path I had chosen to take.
'I deemed it fit to bow out office so that I can prove my innocence before the courts. In any case, the matter is before the court and according to the laws of the land, I am presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the courts. No individual can be the judge, the jury and the executioner at the same time.
'It is only the court that can pronounce anyone guilty of any offence. It is also confounding that while a lot of ceremony was attached to my case, the same has not been the situation with the allegations of missing N83 billion in the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), where those accused of complicity in the matter are being celebrated rather than crucified even though the EFCC has concluded investigations on the matter."
'I do take exceptions to the perpetual penchant to use my name to score cheap international political points in the government's advertised fight against corruption. In 2005, when I was accused of corruption and found guilty via the president's national broadcast, I took what I regarded as the honourable step in order to face the allegations in court and clear my name. I stepped aside not because I was guilty of the allegation. This should be clear to all. And as I stated in my valedictory speech, it takes a man to face such challenges in the interest of the nation.
'My thinking is that any of our compatriots in public office, no mater how highly placed, who is faced with similar situation I found myself in April 2005, should take a cue from what I did then and give the courts the benefit of exercising their powers. Nigeria, definitely will outlive all of us."