Jonathan Panics As Buhari Plans Probe

Jonathan Panics As Buhari Plans Probe

The plan by President Muhammadu Buhari to probe how $2.1 billion was illegally withdrawn from the excess crude account (ECA) has reportedly unsettled former president, Goodluck Jonathan and ministers who served under his administration, The Nation reports.

Jonathan, who recently arrived from a vacation, following his May 29 hand over to Buhari, has reportedly raised alarm that the probe about to be embarked by the present administration is a grand plot to blackmail him and his erstwhile cabinet members.

The Nation, citing sources in the know, reports that Jonathan is planning to plead his case with the Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami (retd) national peace committee that that oversaw a peace agreement which led to a smooth transition from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

READ ALSO: President Buhari Is Defeating Insurgency – Oyegun

A former minister who served under the Jonathan administration, said the former president is particularly incensed that “the administration of Buhari has been stigmatising his administration instead of putting him into confidence on issues“.

The Top News Making Headline In Some National Dailies Are:

Vanguard – Appointment Of New Service Chiefs: 25 Generals Face Retirement

Daily Sun – New Service Chiefs: Sack Fever

The Punch – DSS Grill NNPC Diorector 11 Times Over Swap Deals

The Nation – Jonathan Kicks As Buhari Plans $2.1b oil Cash Probe

The Guardian – Put National Interest First, Buhari Tells APC Leaders

In another development, Vanguard reports that about 25 major generals are set to go on compulsory retirement following the appointment of new service chiefs on Monday by President Muhammadu Buhari,

Vanguard, citing military sources reports that with appointment of Major-General T.Y. Buratai, who is a course 29 regular intake of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), as chief of army staff, senior military officers from course 25, 26, and 27 may have to leave the service voluntarily.

Sources said the present shakeup in the hierarchy of the military will also affect major generals on course 28 , as they may be posted to the defence headquarters

The Sun reports that the mass retirement of senior officers is to allow chance for the newly appointed service chiefs to operate freely.

The command units of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air force are in this regard, compiling briefs in their respective departments so as to update the new chiefs.

The retirement of the senior officers would commence when the Senate confirms the new appointments.

READ ALSO: PDP’s 16-Yr Mess Too Much For Buhari To Stem In 30 Days

President Muhammadu Buhari said the appointment of the new service chiefs was geared at re-positioning the Nigerian army to win the war against Boko Haram.

Vanguard reports that the forthcoming trip of President Buhari to the United States of America this month, may have speed up the change in the army hierarchy so as to prove a point to his American counterpart, Barrack Obama, that the Nigerian army was being re-positioned to win the war against Boko Haram.

In other news, a director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has complained that the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) have been harassing some of executives of the corporation at its headquarters in Abuja, The Punch reports

The investigation by the DSS and anti-graft agencies on NNPC follows President Muhammadu Buhari directive to review the crude for oil products swap contracts and offshore processing agreements with trading companies.

The headquarters of the corporation is now reportedly under siege by DSS operatives and soldiers guiding the building.

According to reports in The Guardian, President Muhammadu Buhari has urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to forgo their differences and unite so as to enable the party to achieve its campaign manifestos.

‎Buhari gave this admonition to the party members yesterday, July 14, when he hosted the party leadership to a Ramadan fast at the new banquet hall at the presidential villa.

The president at the function recalled the many struggles the party surmounted before defeating the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general elections.

He alluded to the sacrifices Bola Tinubu, Chief Bisi Akande and the former chairman of the defunct All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP), Chief Ogbonnaya Onu made in creating the alliance that led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Bola Tinubu, was also reported to have denied the existence of any rift between him and President Buhari.

“I have no demands of the party. If you understand what party politics and leadership is all about, it is about loyalty and commitment to the values which the leadership believes in. I believe in what the President believes in, I respect him and I stand firmly loyal to his cause, he said

Adding that :“So you can go to any length of speculation . I have not responded to all of that because I understand the President and the President understands me clearly too.”