A
abujagirl
Guest
Shortly after the plane crash involving the corpse of former Ondo state Governor, Olusegun Agagu, members of the Agagu family and well-wishers, the Nigerian aviation sector came under fire.
The crash and circumstances surrounding it had led to public outrage over the gross mismanagement in the aviation sector. The outcry got even louder when aviation minister Stella Oduah reportedly declared such an accident (even one that killed a total of 15 people) as an “inevitable act of God.”
As Nigerians were getting used to the new fact that accidents were an act of an almighty, uncaring and murderous God, inside information emerged on the extravagant car purchase of the aviation minister. At first, the N255 million ministerial car purchase was tagged a rumor.
Several media house, particularly Sahara Reporters were forced to take the heat for a story that was said to be incorrect and politically motivated. But as the N255 million bullet proof cars began to trend on social networks, Nigerian dailies and the blogosphere, the minister finally admitted the cars were actually purchased.
Then the drama began. No news day was complete without coverage of the N255 million bullet proof cars scandal. Majority of Nigerians called for the aviation’s minister’s head. Legal suits were threatened and calls for more investigations were made.
The embattled minister began to seek a way out of the car scandal which was threatening to swallow her.
In a bid to save the ministers neck, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) came out to claim responsibility for the purchase. The cars were said to be written off as an agency purchase, not a direct purchase for the minister. NCAA’s explanation, far from placating Nigerians, incited more anger. The people became extremely thirsty for information.
In typical Nigerian fashion, a probe was launched by the House of Representatives which had just being accused of misappropriation of constitution review funds. President Goodluck Jonathan issued the minister a query and a presidential probe committee was also set up.
The aviation ministry accused the opposition of trying to bring down the minister who is a close political associate of President Jonathan and had even championed his neighbor-to-neighbor campaign.
Even as the different probes began, the embattled minister of aviation followed her boss, President Jonathan to Israel on pilgrimage and to seal the Nigeria- Israel BASA deal. However, at the last minute, Oduah was barred from the BASA signing agreement.
While a wide section of the country called for the minister's sack, her supporters - mostly her kinsmen - also emerged. A Pro-Oduah protest was carried out in south-east Nigeria.
More reports and reactions have continued to trail the N255 million car scandal, several individuals and groups like Coscharis were roped in, even the speckless finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was almost roped in.
Oduah was even given ample opportunity to defend herself, and like every staunch politician she gave a touching defence that can make a believer out of anyone.
The probe into the Oduah car scandal by the presidential committee has officially ended. The House of representatives recommended a sack.
Already there are indications that President Jonathan would ignore the probe reports and that NCAA officials would be take the fall for the minister.
Would President Jonathan act on the probe reports or would it just be swept under the carpet like several other reports? .
The crash and circumstances surrounding it had led to public outrage over the gross mismanagement in the aviation sector. The outcry got even louder when aviation minister Stella Oduah reportedly declared such an accident (even one that killed a total of 15 people) as an “inevitable act of God.”
As Nigerians were getting used to the new fact that accidents were an act of an almighty, uncaring and murderous God, inside information emerged on the extravagant car purchase of the aviation minister. At first, the N255 million ministerial car purchase was tagged a rumor.
Several media house, particularly Sahara Reporters were forced to take the heat for a story that was said to be incorrect and politically motivated. But as the N255 million bullet proof cars began to trend on social networks, Nigerian dailies and the blogosphere, the minister finally admitted the cars were actually purchased.
Then the drama began. No news day was complete without coverage of the N255 million bullet proof cars scandal. Majority of Nigerians called for the aviation’s minister’s head. Legal suits were threatened and calls for more investigations were made.
The embattled minister began to seek a way out of the car scandal which was threatening to swallow her.
In a bid to save the ministers neck, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) came out to claim responsibility for the purchase. The cars were said to be written off as an agency purchase, not a direct purchase for the minister. NCAA’s explanation, far from placating Nigerians, incited more anger. The people became extremely thirsty for information.
In typical Nigerian fashion, a probe was launched by the House of Representatives which had just being accused of misappropriation of constitution review funds. President Goodluck Jonathan issued the minister a query and a presidential probe committee was also set up.
The aviation ministry accused the opposition of trying to bring down the minister who is a close political associate of President Jonathan and had even championed his neighbor-to-neighbor campaign.
Even as the different probes began, the embattled minister of aviation followed her boss, President Jonathan to Israel on pilgrimage and to seal the Nigeria- Israel BASA deal. However, at the last minute, Oduah was barred from the BASA signing agreement.
While a wide section of the country called for the minister's sack, her supporters - mostly her kinsmen - also emerged. A Pro-Oduah protest was carried out in south-east Nigeria.
More reports and reactions have continued to trail the N255 million car scandal, several individuals and groups like Coscharis were roped in, even the speckless finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was almost roped in.
Oduah was even given ample opportunity to defend herself, and like every staunch politician she gave a touching defence that can make a believer out of anyone.
The probe into the Oduah car scandal by the presidential committee has officially ended. The House of representatives recommended a sack.
Already there are indications that President Jonathan would ignore the probe reports and that NCAA officials would be take the fall for the minister.
Would President Jonathan act on the probe reports or would it just be swept under the carpet like several other reports? .
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