The Presidency has rejected former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s allegations against President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting to the allegations during his appearance on Sunday Politics, Mr Femi Adesina described the claims as mere opinion of the former President.
“Talking of the statement today, I can only say that it is the opinion of a man,” the Special Adviser to the President told Channels Television.
“There are about 196 million Nigerians; if one man says anything, it is just his opinion; it does not mean that is the gospel … this is a democracy, he has a right to it.”
Earlier, former President Obasanjo issued a statement in which he accused President Buhari of impunity and plot to rig the election.
He criticised the President for the trial of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and the recent appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari, among other issues.
The elder statesman had also said that President Buhari was putting into practice the lessons he allegedly learned from late General Sani Abacha.
Adesina, on his part, insisted that the allegations against his principal were nothing more but the opinion of the former President.
He stressed that President Buhari has always maintained his integrity but a lot of happening which constituted impunity allegedly took place during Obasanjo’s administration.
“You also forget that we were in this country when that same government headed by former President Obasanjo was in power – there were many things that constituted impunity that happened in that government,” the presidential aide claimed.
“Like I have said and like you have observed, it (the allegation) will just be an opinion of the former President; it doesn’t constitute the gospel.”
Adesina, however, said President Buhari would never be rude or exchange words with former President Obasanjo.
According to him, the President goes as far as cautioning his aides not to respond to the elder statesman whenever he criticises his administration.
He noted that Obasanjo was superior to his principal while they were both in the military, adding that President Buhari served as Minister of Petroleum for more than three years when Obasanjo was Head of State.
The President’s spokesman insisted, “President Muhammadu Buhari has an abiding respect for former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
“Former President Obasanjo is a senior to President Buhari any day and President Buhari gives him due courtesies whenever they meet.”
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