Embattled Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah seeks audience with Jonathan
Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah
The embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, has commenced last- ditch efforts to save her job.
The PUNCH learnt on Sunday that she had used the last few days seeking private audience with President Goodluck Jonathan.
On Friday for instance, she was sighted
at the Presidential Villa in Abuja as calls by groups for her removal
over the purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars for her by the Nigerian
Civil Aviation authority heightened.
The NCAA spent a whopping $1.6m(N255m) on the two cars which market value is N36m each.
A very reliable Presidency source, who
disclosed Oduah’s visit to the Villa, said she “wanted to explain
herself to the President, who like every Nigerian, was embarrassed by
the media reports and the evidence of the purchase of the two cars at an
outrageous sum of N255m.”
The source said, “She was here (Villa) on Friday but like you know, Mr. President was busy throughout the weekend.”
When asked if Oduah eventually saw
Jonathan, he replied, “I cannot tell for sure if the minister who
looked
worried saw him or not.”
However, the source dismissed
speculations that Oduah, who is to appear before the Senate this week
over the crisis facing the Aviation industry, was at the Villa to beg
the President to prevent possible sanctions.
He stated that should she decide to
beg, she would most likely reach out to highly placed Nigerians who
have the ears of the President.
The source mentioned the Chairman of
the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih;
former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; and Ijaw National Leader,
Chief Edwin Clark, as such prominent Nigerians.
Our correspondents gathered that apart
from the calls from outside government circle for her sacking, some of
her colleagues are believed to be telling people close to her to advise
her to voluntarily quit in order to save the Jonathan administration
further embarrassment.
A female minister is said to be leading the campaign as she sees this as an opportunity to get even with Oduah.
It was learnt that a female minister,
who allegedly bought a private jet, has been angry that Oduah was the
prime suspect in an embarrassing publication involving the leasing of
the jet at outrageous sums per trips made by top government
officials.
Investigations also revealed that the
release of the documents on the purchase of the two vehicles was likely
the fallout of infighting among female ministers in the President’s
cabinet.
Meanwhile, strong indications emerged on
Sunday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may probe the
bulletproof car scandal.
A source at the EFCC said the scandal came as a shock to most of his colleagues.
The source said, “Like you and all
other Nigerians, it is natural that all of us are shocked by what
happened. I think you should hold it there until events unfold.”
The Special Adviser to the President on
Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak, had in an interview with one of our
correspondents, assured Nigerians that the President would not shield
the minister if found culpable.
He had said, “I can assure you that
President Jonathan will not shield the minister or any government
official for that matter if he receives information that is true.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Oduah is expected to appear before the Senate as the Senate resumes plenary on Tuesday.
The Senate had summoned her and heads of parastatals under the Aviation ministry over the air accidents in the country.
