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1. Chief Executive of the Board of Trustees and Chairman - ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo Solicitor to the group - Mr. Eleojo Haruna
Tuesday, June 05, 2007/JUMADAL-ULA 20, 1428 A. H. Obasanjo’s group forms NGO By Jibrin Abubakar & Andrew Walke The former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and a group of trusted friends are forming a new ‘group’ dedicated to keeping the new government on track with ex-president’s reforms, Daily Trust can reveal. The former president will be the chief executive of the Board of Trustees and chairman of a new organi-sation called the Nigeria Development Forum (NDF). The new group yesterday applied for registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The active role the former president is taking on contradicts statements he made to the press that he would be retiring to his farm in Otta and to manage his library. The Action Congress yesterday accused the group of forming a “parallel government” and warned that Nigerians should “watch out”. The accusation was denied by the Head of the House of Representatives Budget Committee and a trustee of the NDF, Hon. Farouk Lawan. He said: “It is absolutely to ensure that the reforms continue, but this has nothing to do with any kitchen cabinet affair. As you can see, Nigerians have been drawn from all spectrums of life. It’s all in the open.” He said the meetings would be open to the public. Hon. Lawan denied there would be any conflict of interest or influence. “This is a group of Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their fields and who want to keep on working for Nigeria,” he said. The NDF listed its 18 trustees in an advertorial published on page 99 of the ThisDay newspaper yesterday. The members are: former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, Obasanjo’s daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Austine Opara, former Presidential Adviser, Ifueko Maria Omoigui, the EFCC chairman, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, oil and gas tycoon, Tonye Patrick Cole, Kwara state governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and former Presidential Advisor, Professor Julius Ihonvbere. Others are: former governor of Nasarawa state, Dr Abdullahi Adamu, CEO of Oceanic Bank, Dr. Cecilia Ibru, Chief Anthony Onyemaechi Elumelu, Zenith Bank Chief Mr. Jim Ovia, former Minister of the FCT, Mallam Nasir el- Rufai, Mr. Olufemi Peter Otedola, Farouk Mohammed Lawan, professor Egbosa Emmanuel Osaghae and the CBN Governor, Professor Charles Soludo. The aims and objectives of the new forum, according to its trustees are: “To provide a forum and develop modalities for sustaining the momentum of the ongoing political, social and economic reforms in Nigeria. To provide a forum for the promotion of economic development and activities in Nigeria.” Reacting to the new group, the Action Congress (AC), said it is another way of continuing the corruption perpetuated by the Obasanjo regime for eight years. Alhaji Lai Mohammed, AC’s spokesman, said Nigerians should reject the group, adding that it was the same people who destroyed the socio-economic and political structures of Nigeria. He said, “look at Dangote, look at Otedola, look at el- Rufai, look at Soludo, look at Bayo Ojo and Elumelu, they bought and sold Nigeria. Nigerians must watch out and protest yet another evil plan against Nigeria by these people. It’s like they want to continue outside government the kind of monopoly and exclusive club. Why do they think that their stake is higher than the stake of Nigerians? It is a selfish interest.” But a member of the House of Representatives who is also a trustee of the new group, Honourable Farouk Lawan, told Daily Trust yester-day that everything was above board and there would be no conflict of interest. He said Nuhu Ribadu was included, ‘in his capacity as a Nigerian and does not represent the EFCC on the board of directors. The forum will be funded by voluntary donations and not from government, he said. A statement signed by the Atiku Campaign Organisation said: “they are forming a parallel government. This is an indication of either that they don’t trust the man they put there, Umar Yar’Adua, or that they have no confidence in his ability to steer the reform as part of the overall economy. Omogui, Ribadu and Charles Soludo are public officers. They either should choose to serve the public in their present capacities or resign to join this secret cult.” On his part, Professor Auwalu Yadudu, legal adviser to former Head of state, General Sani Abacha, said: “It is a legitimate group and there is nothing wrong about it.” He said under the 1999 constitution, the new group enjoys the freedom of association. “I can understand the fear of those who think they want to come back through the back door,” he said. He advised those in position of authority to assert themselves and their mandate. The pocket advertorial which was signed by the solicitor to the group, Mr. Eleojo Haruna, further said any objection to the regis-tration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Cooperate Affairs Commission, Abuja.
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