Revealed!! Ambulances were used to move cash during Obasanjo’s third term bid

Follow 9News Nigeria On Social Media

Social sharing

Aso Rock, Nigeria’s seat of power, used ambulances to complement bullion vans when moving cash around during the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The practice was said to have reached its peak in the heat of Obasanjo’s quest for a third term, according to a new book titled ‘Too Good to Die: Third Term and the Myth of the Indispensable Man in Africa’.

The book was written by Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Ayisha Osori, author of ‘Love Does Not Win Elections’.

It talks about events during the Obasanjo administration and the happenings surrounding his third term ambition.

Obasanjo was president between 1999 and 2007, after leading the country as military head of state between 1976 and 1979.

His bid for a third term in office through a constitutional amendment failed after it faced rejection from various quarters.

In the book, a copy of which was obtained by TheCable, the authors narrated how an armed guard within the presidential villa lost control of his rifle, inflicting serious injury on a female catering staff of the presidency.

“Around the premises, one ambulance within view of the injured victim was reportedly for the exclusive use of the president; another was for the vice-president. Neither was available to save this woman,” the book read.

READ ALSO  PDP Moves To Suspend Members Who Worked Against Party’s Victory During 2023 General Election

“Two other ambulances within view had no gasoline. One of the ambulance drivers, who reluctantly agreed to help, wanted money to put gasoline in his car first before making the journey to the nearest clinic.

“All this while, the victim was losing blood. Another member of staff was forced to take the victim to the hospital in a private vehicle. One of the staff in the presidency was later to explain that they were not in the habit of using ambulances to evacuate human beings. According to this staff, it was the practice since the time of President Obasanjo to use ambulances to complement bullion vans in moving cash in different currencies to different locations.

“The practice reached its peak during the ultimately futile process of amending the constitution to extend the tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo a little over one decade earlier. Just as an ambulance is not designed to transport cash, the presidency is an unlikely parking lot for a bullion van. It is not a bank or financial service institution.”

The co-authors said the claim that ambulances in the presidency “were used to transport cash during the tenure elongation process was not surprising”.

“It underscores the nature and role of money in President Obasanjo’s effort to ascend to a god-presidency and holds the key to understanding why President Obasanjo’s tenure elongation project became so damaging to the long-term prospects of democracy and its institution in Nigeria,” they said.

READ ALSO  Aregbesola Dies In USA (Photo)

The third term agenda was said to have gulped about $500 million, according to the authors.

Nasir el-Rufai, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT) under Obasanjo, was quoted in the book as saying the constitutional amendment bill to elongate the ex-president’s tenure “went before the national assembly with hundreds of millions of dollars raised to procure its passage”.

Leave your comment on this post

THE ROTTEN FISH: CAN OF WORMS OPENED OF APC & TINUBU'S GOVERNMENT OVER NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

WATCH THE CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND KNOW THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES TO BLAME FOR NIGERIA'S ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, WHILE CITIZENS ENDURE SEVERE HARDSHIPS.

Watch this episode of ISSUES IN THE NEWS on 9News Nigeria featuring Peter Obi's Special Adviser, Dr Katch Ononuju, 9News Nigeria Publisher, Obinna Ejianya and Tinubu Support Group Leader, McHezekiah Eherechi

The economic crisis and hardship in Nigeria are parts of the discussion.


Watch, leave your comments, and share to create more awareness on this issue.


#9NewsNigeria #Nigeria #issuesInTheNews #politics #tinubu THE ROTTEN FISH: CAN OF WORMS OPENED ...
DON'T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE AND LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS FOR SUBSEQUENT UPDATES
#9newsnigeria #economia #economy #nigeria #government @9newsng
www.9newsng.com

Leave your comment

Click on the link below or Scan the QR Code to join the 9News Nigeria WhatsApp Channel

9News Nigeria Investigative Reports WhatsApp Channel
9News Nigeria Investigative Reports WhatsApp Channel
About Wisdom Nwedene 11518 Articles
Wisdom Nwedene studied English Language at Ebonyi State University. He is a writer, an editor and has equally interviewed many top Nigerian Politicians and celebrities. For publication of your articles, press statements, contact him via email: nwedenewisdom@gmail.com

Be the first to comment

Leave your comment