OBJ better leader than Jonathan - ACN lawmaker

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been described as a leader with qualities which always propelled him to take decisions at the right time, even if such decisions might be faulted in the end. Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Babajide Omoworare, made this known while answering questions from newsmen at the National Assembly on Monday.Omoworare, who said he was not an admirer of the former president, admitted that Obasanjo would take a decision at a critical moment, even if it was wrong and even if he would be criticised.

He alleged that President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the capacity to proffer solution to the myriad of problems confronting the nation.

Omoworare, an Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) legislator, said the major presently facing the Federal Government was the inability of the president to assert himself as a leader and take necessary decisions.

“I’m not a fan of Obasanjo, but give it to him, he would take a decision, even if it was wrong; even if he would be criticised.

“But the incumbent president cannot take decisions. He appears not to understand the rudiment of governance.

“My opinion is that the executive is not doing enough. I have cause to challenge the president’s capacity to govern Nigeria. He may be good-natured. But to govern Nigeria, you need more than being good-natured,” he said.

Omoworare said it was high time the Senate put aside its toga of statesmanship and looked at President Jonathan in the eye, asking him to measure up to the responsibilities of his office.

He said it was commendable that the upper legislative body had been demonstrating patriotic spirit by avoiding open confrontation with the president.

He, however, said the Senate should put aside the non-confrontational attitude and be more assertive in making Jonathan to be more alive to his responsibilities as the president.

“While the House of Representatives wants to bring down the roof, the Senate has been moderate to ensure that the roof does not come down.

“We do a lot of statesmanship here when we need to look at the president eye ball to eye ball.

“The Senate can do a lot more by shifting a bit to the left. We should be able to stand up to him and say “Mr President, you are not doing enough,” Omoworare said.

He went on to say that, no matter how bad or weak the president might be, there was no way he can be impeached, because the Senate was currently dominated by the ruling party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said any effort to raise such an issue on the floor of the Senate would be rejected by the PDP senators, adding “there is no way impeachment move against him will succeed in the Senate.”

He was also critical of the enforcement of plea bargain in the country, saying it was wrongly imported to protect the rich.

He recalled that in the United States of America (USA), over 80 per cent of cases were resolved through plea bargaining, because the system was been applied with the right motive.