Indications
emerged last night, that President Goodluck Jonathan may not allow the
embattled Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah, to take part in the
symbolic event of signing a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with
Israel, slated for Tel Aviv tomorrow.
Sources from the Presidency hinted that although Oduah left Nigeria
to prepare the ground for the event, Jonathan was uncomfortable with her
presence in Israel and might bar her from the event.According to the sources, the president was uncomfortable with the public outrage arising from the N255 million armoured vehicles said to have been bought for Oduah by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and having Oduah by her side may be seen as condoning corruption, which he had always vowed to fight.
“The president is mindful of the fact that he has to project Nigeria as a country which does not condone any form of graft and will not bring a tainted official of his administration to Tel Aviv for a serious event as the BASA signing ceremony.
“Before leaving for the holy land, Jonathan had made it clear that the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the two armoured cars for the minister be thoroughly investigated and a detailed report made for him to assure Nigerians and the international community that he does not tolerate any form of financial impropriety,” a source revealed.
Sources further said that the alleged scandal has split the Federal Executive Council on whether Jonathan should sack her or allow her to remain with her smeared image following the alleged car deal.
INFOR NIGERIA
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