The Chairman of the Organisation and Mobilisation Committee for the South West Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Buruji Kashamu, has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of launching a campaign of calumny and blackmail against him.
Mr. Kashamu made the accusation on Monday in Abeokuta, in reaction to a statement by Mr. Obasanjo, who urged the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to do away with figures such as Mr. Kashamu, who is wanted in the United States on drugs-related charges.
In his response, Mr. Kashamu said he will “defeat” the former president at all cost, and dismissed Mr. Obasanjo’s statement as “yet another cocktail of lies served with his legendary deceit”.
“The reason I have become the target of Obasanjo’s wicked campaign of calumny and blackmail is his perceived loss of political relevance in Ogun State and the South West. He is against the second term ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan and he had wanted to use the erstwhile National Secretary, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; the former National Auditor, Bode Mustapha and the ex-National Vice-Chairman, Segun Oni, to thwart Mr. President’s re-election,” Mr. Kashamu said.
Mr. Kashamu is accused of drugs trafficking by the U.S. authorities, an allegation he denies. A U.S. Court recently rejected Mr. Kashamu’s appeal for the charges to be dismissed.
In an earlier statement in 2013, Mr. Obasanjo had criticised the PDP leadership for retaining Mr. Kashamu as a leader of the party in the southwest, the former president’s region.
In the latest statement, Mr. Obasanjo said Mr. Kashamu remains one of the reasons he has refused to resume an active role in the ruling PDP.
Mr. Kashamu dismissed the former president’s “diatribe”, saying what Mr. Obasanjo has refused to tell the world is that during his first tenure as president, Mr. Obasanjo and a former Beninoise President, Matthew Kerekou, directed relevant security agencies to give evidence that exonerated him (Kashamu) of drug charges.
“That was why the Interpol in Nigeria and Benin Republic as well as the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) came to the London courts in 2000/2001 to give evidence during my incarceration and trial. That also explained why when I returned I became his associate,” he said.
“He used me to prosecute his battle against former Governor Gbenga Daniel. When it was time to field candidates for the 2011 general elections, he brought his stooge, Gen. Adetunji Olurin, and asked me to roll the party structure behind his anointed candidate.
“In his usual holier-than-thou manner, he talked about not being able to work with me because of his principles, honour and integrity. But the questions Nigerians should ask him are: where were his principles when he used to take me into the inner recesses of his abode?
“Where was his honour when he served me breakfast, lunch and dinner in his Hilltop mansion? Where was his integrity when he mounted the rostrum to sing my praises, praying for me as he did in May 2010 during a reception for the former Minister of Commerce and Industry, Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye? I can go on and on,” he said.
Mr. Kashamu denied he was wanted in the United States.
“Even if that were the case, there are processes and procedures to follow, and they are not subject to anyone’s whims and caprices, not even Obasanjo’s because no man is God,” he said.
“As I have continually stated, I have never in stepped my feet into the U.S neither do I have any business there. I was wrongly accused, arrested, tried and freed over the same indictment. Indeed, my arrest, detention and trial were at its behest and the U.S Authorities fully participated in the whole extradition proceedings.
“If after a full trial on the basis of the same indictment, the British courts exonerated me, which other indictment is Obasanjo talking about? What happens to the general principle of International Law on double-jeopardy? It is commonsensical that even without any judicial pronouncement the indictment is technically dead.
“I cannot be tried by the same parties over the same issues again. While I would do a more detailed response to Obasanjo’s relentless tirades against me in due course; it is high time he retraced his misguided steps. He should borrow a leaf from a time–tested Yoruba proverb which says those who dance naked with glee in the night would have themselves exposed to shame when the morning comes.
“Although he is seen as Goliath, I would triumph over him the same way the almighty Allah Subhana wa tala used me in rescuing the party from his vice-grip in Ogun State, in particular and the South West, in general,” Mr. Kashamu emphasised.
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Mr.Kashamu,thank God that you understood mr Obasanjo's tactics early enough. But you should trade softly. He is looking for any avenue to restore his lost glory, if he still has any . what development did he brought to Ogun land.
ReplyDeleteI think this kasamu needs to be thought how to respect elders. If you did not tread any close to drugs, nobody would have implicated you. Obasanjo has good information about you and he decides to do away with you. Am afraid that GEJ has men of moral decadence, thugs, drug barons, snippers, militants, insurgents sorounding him. The likes of wyke, fayose, kashamu, bunu sherif, asari, oritsejafor, ffk, aribisala(name it). Stop insulting baba and prosecute you case to the point of 'dischaged and acquited'. Where is your reputation in the west? People have not forgoten how you were making pdp members to swear to your oath in a coffin in ogun state with cash inducement. Ade
ReplyDeleteGbigbi ! gbigbigbgbi!!! bgibgigbigbigbigbi!!!! for you. The quality of those you've mentioned are the close associate of the ruling gangs. The country faces all sorts of embarrassments on daily basis.
DeleteThe two of you are just born useless. It really kills you guys that GEJ is the president of Nigeria please hug the nearest transformer. See the beast talking about respect for which idiotic elder when you don't have respect for men of God. maggots and pigs.
DeleteIf you were not involved in drugs why were you declared wanted in US and why are you running from US. Go back to US and answer your case and stop running from the court
ReplyDeleteAnonymous @ oct 13, 11:12pm can you please refrain from such scathing remarks, including the clergyman in your list and name calling is a bit extreme. Please let us be moderate in our utterances. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteTrue.
DeleteYou are a criminal. That is the simple truth.
ReplyDeletei love bieng practical so if i were ds guy i will simply take a trip to d united states and do a wk or two there, wateva happens thereafter will either silence obj or exonerate him
ReplyDeletemy only problem wit obasanjo is.he feels nigeria is his property.here him calling sumbody drug baron.whyle he is actually d baron.dat spent 13billion dorlas on nepa.wit ova 1000 abandon projects nation wide during ur eight years reighn as president.u are shameless baba.
ReplyDeletePlease ponder on some of the points Mr. Kasumu raised!
ReplyDeleteWhat if really the main reason for this witch-hunt is for baba to remain in control of south west to his selfish interest!
So baba just woke up and realised Kasumu is a drug dealer?
What about how baba through mr Kasumu had distracted and intimidated some people?
Fact: OBJ aint a saint and we aint fools, these set of elders/leaders don't have our interest at heart ,they are selfish, OBJ had the chance to led Nig. to greatness but he failed. GEJ is towing same part too! On completion of his tenure he will come forward and say he has an idea on ending corruption!Rubbish.
Mark.