Applauding former presidents Obasanjo, Buhari for their patriotic outing in Paris, by Kola Amzat

About a week ago, ex-presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari had incredible outing, as well as did unthinkably well to protect the image and dignity of Nigeria in an Arbitration Court in a foreign country.

In faraway Paris, France, the two (2) former leaders registered their physical appearances to stoutly defend Nigeria at The Arbitration Court in France, in a case brought against the country by Sunrise Company/Leno Adesanya on the existence or non-existence of a contract for the construction of Mambilla Power Project.     

The duo indeed testified and disputed the complainants’ claims in the $2.3 billion arbitration case filed by the company and its owner, Leno Adesanya against Nigeria over an alleged breach of contract by the Federal Government.

The company confirmed that the compensation of $2.3 billion been demanded was meant to defray and offset the entire financial resources it had committed on financial and legal consultants.    

The company and its founder had alleged that Federal Government awarded them $6 billion in 2003 for the “Construction of 3960MW Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Station on Build, Operate and Transfer Basis”, a claim strongly and diligently disputed by Obasanjo as spurious, atrocious and fraudulent and a calculated attempt to defraud and scam Nigeria.

Former President Obasanjo who incidentally was the leader of the country at the time the purported contract was alleged to have been  awarded accused Dr. Olu Agunloye, the then power minister of been fraudulent, deceitful and deliberate attempt to commit act of malfeasance.

The ex-president asserted that Agunloye was the one who communicated approval of the contract to the Sunrise Company/Leno Adesanya, for the reasons best known to him, after the memo for the purported contract was rejected by the Federal Executive Council Meeting, that he presided.

Former President Buhari was also unequivocal in testifying against the company, accusing them of deliberate attempt to defraud Nigeria, with his former Attorney General/Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami strongly lining behind him.

It was reported that the two former leaders were at their very best in defending Nigeria cause, a development that reportedly not only gladdened the team of international lawyers representing the country, but might have sounded a death knell on the wicked attempt by Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Ltd/Leno Adesanya in collaboration with Olu Agunloye to defraud Nigeria of an immeasurable sfortunes. 

But, the crux of this Piece is that, it’s particularly noteworthy, gratifying and heartwarming that the nation former leaders, especially General Obasanjo (rtd) are tacitly deeming it worthy to forge alliance and harmonious relationship with the present administration in its quest to protect the integrity, image and sovereignty of the country anywhere in the globe.

It would be vividly recall that several times in the past, quite a number of Nigerians, including the writer, have admonished former president Obasanjo on the need to drop his belligerence and rally round the present administration led by President Bola Tinubu on the need to reposition, reengineer, restructure, as well as refocus the affairs of the country in all gamut.

Without any iota of doubt, Nigeria is going through necessary reforms, on account of mismanagement, maladministration and leadership deficiency in the past, and all hands must be on deck to see the country through this difficult phase.  

The supports and collaboration of past leaders like Obasanjo, Buhari. Babangida, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Goodluck Jonathan is therefore needed by present government to turn the tide sooner than we expect.

Obasanjo in particular is an illustrious Nigerian, with international connections and contacts, as well as veteran administrator and leader and with deep experience of Nigeria nation, its people, as well as military apparatus and there is no doubt that his wholesale experience would also be needed to take Nigeria out of the woods.

It’s against this backdrop that his voluntary appearance at Arbitration Court to defend the cause of a country that has provided him platform for global recognition, fame and stupendous wealth is hereby been applauded and deeply appreciated.

Finally, this writer further implore the ex-president that there are still many hurdles to cross particularly in the economy, infrastructural developments, as well as the country’s international relationship and that Obasanjo should not relent on his oars to provide valuable advise whenever this is needed by the president.

Kola AMZAT(FCA, FCIB, ACS, ACTIN),

WKA Consulting, Lagos.