The minister, who was said to have found it difficult to see the President in Abuja since the scandal broke out, was said to have also sent many emissaries to speak with the President on the matter.
Though official sources said Oduah was in Israel to sign Bilateral services agreement on behalf of Nigeria with Israel.
It was gathered that she would use the meeting to inform the President that those mounting pressure on him to sack her were his political enemies who did not want him to contest the presidential election in 2015.
A source close to Oduah said, “The minister would use this argument to sway the President to her side.
“She would inform the President not to allow his enemies triumph over him and should also know that if those enemies succeed in pushing her out, then many of the trusted aides of the President would be the next target.”
It was also gathered that the meeting would also afford the minister the opportunity to seek audience with the National Security Adviser to the President, Sambo Dasuki, who is one of the members of the administrative panel set up by the President to investigate the minister. Sambo is also in Israel.
The minister played an important role during the 2011 presidential campaign by overseeing Neighbour-to-Neighbour, which was considered to be one of the potent propaganda arms of President Jonathan campaign organisation was then.
She is said to have been also pencilled down to play a more important role in 2015 for the President.
Apart from this, the minister was said to have marshalled out some points concerning the purchase of the controversial vehicles.
One of which was that the documents of the vehicles did not bear her name.
A statement signed by the spokesperson for the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authorities, Mr. Yakubu Datti on Tuesday confirmed this.
Datti said, “No mention is made of the fact that, of all the documents paraded for the vehicles, none mentioned the name of the Minister of Aviation.
But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati said, Oduah decided to travel to Israel ahead of the President rather than waiting to be part of his entourage, because presidential delegation was usually divided into segments.
He said in most of the trips, relevant ministers were expected to travel ahead in order to do the ground works for the President and brief him on arrival.
He said, “Presidential delegation is divided into segments. The President has a main body team that travels with him. Some people can travel ahead of him, it is not everybody that can travel with him. How many people can the presidential aircraft carry?
“That the minister travelled ahead of him is not an issue. Ministers usually go ahead of the President to do ground work, if there are meetings to be done before the President’s arrival, they would have done them. That is how it is done.
“In many of these trips, there will be pre-event meetings that ministers would have attended so that when the President comes, they will brief him. This is not an issue.”
Abati also said that the Presidency did not grant the NCAA any approval to procure the controversial N255m vehicles for the embattled minister.
In an interview with one of our corespondents, Abati, dared the NCAA to produce the approval if indeed such existed.
“That is not true. If they have a presidential approval, let them produce it. People are just trying to politicise the issue. The President has already set up a panel to investigate. That panel has the responsibility to look at all issues that may come up and all issues that have already come up.
“I think people should stop speculating. We should allow that panel to do its job. We should not politicise its work. What they can remain assured of is that the President is interested in the matter,” Abati said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Story. Nothing would come out of the probe as usual. Thieves.
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed shabby political antics. One of the questions that come to mind is; when was this vehicle(s) purchased. who are the other actors in purchasing it. Did the Honourable Minister issue and sign a cheque and withdrew the money from the ministry's account to buy the vehicle. Was it purchased in the minister's name or is it Government's property???. Nigerians should stop playing cheap diversionary politics and focus on ways to move the country forward
ReplyDeleteNigerianeye do have to publish any nonsense that comes to your mind for us to read . If you do not have anything worthy to be read on this medium just hold your pen.
ReplyDeleteOfcourse the minister said she had presidential approval there by trying to indict the presidency. See trouble. We shall see how this one plays out. I think the main issue is that they are taking Jonathan for a fool and always parading themselves as his loyalist. But they are only loyal to themselves presido. They care not for you a bit. Lose that post today and they will be all over the next presiden(
ReplyDeleteIf you ask me how to deal with them, I will tell you to keep them, but make sure they are always up and doing. If any of them inflicts harm on your administration as this one clearly did, use them as scape goats so that others will respect that you are in charge. By so doing you will win the confidence of Nigerians and with their confidence come their votes.
@ Okpara and co.
ReplyDeleteWhy are you guys siding thieves like Stella Oduah.
Very unfortunate she can't emulate valorous women like Dora Akuyeli, Eze Kweseli, Prof Rukayat etcetera rather, she chose to be known as thief. Very unfortunate such a woman goes to the holy land to do what? I guess holy land is not meant for thieves like her.
She could succeed in lobbying the president, yes it is possible because someone recommended her to the president before the job was given to her. We are watching.