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Closed Door Meeting: What I discussed with Buhari – Obasanjo

President Muhammadu Buhari welcoming Obasanjo to the Presidential Villa

President Muhammadu Buhari welcoming Obasanjo to the Presidential Villa

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday opened up on his discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari early today during a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Obasanjo said he delivered messages from the Presidents of Liberia and Gambia to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Obasanjo made this known while answering questions from State House correspondents.

Although the former president did not divulge the content of the message, he said he updated president Buhari on the outcome of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Africa Export-Import Bank, which he attended in Seychelles Island.

“I have some messages for the president.

“Not too long ago, I was in Liberia and The Gambia and the presidents of these two countries had some messages that they would want me to deliver to the President.

“Also, only yesterday I came back from Seychelles Island, where I attended this year’s Annual General meeting of Africa Export–Import Bank.

“And there were aspects of the proceedings during that meeting that I think I should update the President on.’’

On the issue of budget padding, Obasanjo advised the President to always be vigilant, saying that the recent 2016 Budget scandal in the National Assembly had vindicated him.

Obasanjo had in January challenged the National Assembly to open the financial records of the Senate and the House of Representatives since 1999 to external bodies.

The former president expressed concern over the current budget padding accusation and counter-accusation between the leadership of the House of Representatives and the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

Jibrin, who was removed as the chairman of the committee last week, had accused the leadership of the House of padding the 2016 budget to the tune of N40 billion.

He alleged that the padding was done at a secret location with the backing of the Speaker and three principal officers including Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, House Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor.

Some supporters of the Speaker in the House of Representatives in turn accused the aggrieved member of padding the 2016 budget with billions of naira.

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