STAR NEWS: Ex-American Ambassador sad Patience Jonathan accumulated $35m in a poor country, still not convicted
*Describes former President Jonathan’s wife as arrogant, flamboyant
*Explains why perceptions of Buhari using EFCC to persecute PDP, Christians is mere farce
*Argues: If PDP are the prosecuted, it’s because PDP were in position to loot; if Christians then, Jonathan’s government was dominated by Christians
*Accuses PDP of pushing back on Buhari’s anti-corruption war
“While it is true that under President Buhari, most of the high-profile investigations have been of PDP former officials in the Jonathan administration who are predominately Christian, these people were also, of course, in positions where they could loot public funds. Further, Christians dominated the Jonathan government, though the EFCC has also investigated Sambo Dasuki, Jonathan ’s Muslim national security adviser, who remains under house arrest,” he said.
A former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, has noted that the immediate past First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, was being “arrogant” and “flamboyant.”
In a piece he wrote at the weekend, entitled, “Nigerian President Buhari’s Sisyphean Efforts,” and posted on Council on Foreign Relations’ website, Campbell also questioned Patience’s wealth having spent most of her life as a civil servant.
The ex-US envoy said, “Patience Jonathan as the first lady was flamboyant, arrogant, and widely disliked. She has yet to be convicted of a crime.
“However, it is curious how a person who spent most of her career in public service could accumulate an acknowledged $35 million in a poor country.”
Patience Jonathan is currently being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and four bank accounts belonging to her have been frozen, while some property belonging to her have also been seized.
Recently, Patience accused the EFCC of waging a “psychological war” against her for supporting Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015.
Speaking further, Campbell noted that “There is pushback against President Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign, especially among the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
“Some claim that Buhari is using the EFCC to go after his political enemies. In the predominately Christian parts of the country, there are also murmurs that the anti-corruption campaign is part of a Muslim effort against Christians.
“The Committee on Public Petitions in the House of Representatives has issued a warrant for the arrest of Magu (EFCC boss) because of his failure to appear before them with respect to a petition by Patience Jonathan. The committee’s move appears to be led by southern, Christian, PDP representatives.”
According to him, there was a tradition in Nigeria of presidents using the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies against their political enemies.
“While it is true that under President Buhari, most of the high-profile investigations have been of PDP former officials in the Jonathan administration who are predominately Christian, these people were also, of course, in positions where they could loot public funds.
“Further, Christians dominated the Jonathan government, though the EFCC has also investigated Sambo Dasuki, Jonathan ’s Muslim national security adviser, who remains under house arrest,” he said.
