The latest effort by President Goodluck Jonathan to save the neck of his embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, hit the rocks last night in Israel.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who arrived in Jerusalem on Saturday, was drafted to broker peace between the Minister and members of the National Assembly who are currently investigating her stunning purchase of two BMW armored cars, a scam that was exposed.
Ekweremadu called a meeting of two Nigerian lawmakers in the country, a Senator and a Member of the House of Representatives, to meet with the minister. The meeting was attended by Ekweremadu, Stella Oduah, Rep. Jagaba Adams of Kaduna Kachiya/Kagarko federal constituency, and Senator Philip Aduda, who represents Abuja. Also in attendance was Kola Adesina of Sahara Oil and Gas, a company now seen to be a front for President Jonathan.
However as the Minister declared her intention to “resolve” all differences by bribing both houses, Senator Aduda told her directly that it would be in her interest to return to Nigeria on Monday and appear before the House on Tuesday. The Senator said while the Senate could be pacified by bribing the committee on Aviation led by Senator Hope Uzordimma, the House seemed hell-bent on getting to the bottom of the matter.
However as the Minister declared her intention to “resolve” all differences by bribing both houses, Senator Aduda told her directly that it would be in her interest to return to Nigeria on Monday and appear before the House on Tuesday. The Senator said while the Senate could be pacified by bribing the committee on Aviation led by Senator Hope Uzordimma, the House seemed hell-bent on getting to the bottom of the matter.
Following the advice of Adua, Rep. Jagaba told the Minister “Let’s “get to Abuja first,” suggesting that his ability to intervene on Mrs. Oduah’s behalf depended on her returning home first.
Mrs. Oduah reportedly broke down at the meeting, pleading with Ekweremadu to use his wider contacts to save her.
The meeting ended without any specific resolution on how to help the Minister.
The meeting ended without any specific resolution on how to help the Minister.
Meanwhile, a mild drama ensued at the River Jordan when the Nigerian delegation in Israel led by President Jonathan went there yesterday to offer prayers, led by the notoriously partisan President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Ayo Oritsejafor.
After praying for President Jonathan and several dignitaries at the venue, Mr. Oritsejafor then specifically prayed for Mrs. Oduah, but to his surprise several people in the gathering refused to say “Amen” to his prayer, stunning the CAN president and Mr. Jonathan. Several people then exchanged glances and moved on.
If President Jonathan thought the controversy about the BMW car scam would quickly away, he is mistaken, as calls for the prosecution of the Minister grew louder over the weekend as it emerged that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the agency arm-twisted to purchase the cars, cannot physically locate them.
Also today, the Abuja–based online news platform, PREMIUM TIMES, reported that the office of the National Security Adviser has said that neither the Minister nor the NCAA applied for, or received the mandatory “end user certificate” for the cars. Similarly, several sources at the Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed that the agency never presented the cars for licensing.
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