Danjuma wants OBJ probed - For economic crimes

Idowu Samuel, Abuja - 05.03.2008

FORMER Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma, on Tuesday hit at former President Olusegun Obasanjo as he called on President Umaru Yar’Adua to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe him.

Danjuma said Obasanjo deserved to be probed for the alleged mismanagement of Nigeria’s economy by his government, for the manner the immediate past government sold the Ajaokuta and Delta Steel companies as one of the reasons.

Danjuma, who fell out with Obasanjo mid-way into his second term in office, alleged that Obasanjo’s government sold the Ajaokuta and Delta steel companies to a commission agent in India. He described the agent as an economic terrorist.

Danjuma made the call in Abuja during a conference on “De-Industrialisation of Northern Nigeria” organised by the Leadership Newspapers Group at the International Conference Centre. According to him, the Indian, rather than managing the steel companies, had been cannibalising and stealing the valuable equipment and machinery they met on the ground and shipping them out.

“The government of Obasanjo handed over Ajaokuta Steel Mill, lock, stock and barrel, in addition to the National Iron Ore Mining Company and Delta Steel Company to a certain Indian commission agent who goes by name Mr. Promod K Mittal.

“This economic terrorist, obviously working as an agent of some of Nigeria’s corrupt leaders, has not only used our national assets to reap billions where he and his corrupt collaborators did not sow, but is also currently cannibalising the entire steel mills and stealing valuable equipment and machinery and shipping them out.

“This act is not just criminal, but an insult. The government of President Umaru Yar’Adua should unleash EFCC on this man tomorrow and all those involved in taking that anti-Nigerian decision to hand over the Ajaokuta complex to the man should be punished immediately.”

He equally asked President Yar’Adua to set up a probe panel to investigate the entire transaction of handing over the companies. He also told the audience that his generation had failed Nigeria and for that reason, canvassed that a younger generation should take charge of the economy and politics of Nigeria. Danjuma gave reasons for rejecting the offer to take over the leadership of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) following the death of Chief Sunday Awoniyi.

He said two months before the death of Awoniyi, he had been receiving pressure from different quarters on the need to head the ACF. He recalled that he had turned down the offer even when the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, led a team to him to consider the offer. He said he did so having been convinced that his generation had failed Nigeria and hence, felt those who constituted the generation should leave the stage for a younger generation to take over.

“Unknown to many, the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi had about two months to his death requested General Yakubu Gowon to talk me into taking over the chairmanship of the ACF from him since he had served out his term.

“General Gowon called me and I met him at his guest house in Lagos. He explained to me why I should accept the offer. I gave him two reasons why I had to reject the offer. The first I told him is that the generation to which I belong had failed and we should quit the stage for the younger generation. I thought it inappropriate after we had failed in one organisation to spread the virus to another.

The second reason I gave was that the ACF had failed in influencing events in the North positively. That was why I reasoned that perhaps, we should allow a new generation of younger, smarter people to take over from us.”