Adams Oshiomhole, former Edo governor, says
President Muhammadu Buhari’s request to the World
Bank for humanitarian assistance in the north-east has
been twisted to achieve a political goal.
The president had come under criticism after Kim
Jong, World Bank president, said he made the request
during a meeting in 2015.
Reacting to the outcry that emanated from Jong’s
disclosure, Oshiomhole said Buhari is a patriotic
Nigerian who only sought the intervention because of
the scale of the humanitarian crisis in the north-east.
The ex-governor said he was present at the meeting,
and explained in a statement the rationale behind the
request.
“It is a matter of fact that I was present at the meeting
of President Muhammadu Buhari with the World Bank
President Dr. Kim Jong on July 21, 2015 at the Blair
House, Washington DC,” Oshiomhole’s statement read.
“It is rather unfortunate that a patriotic request made
by Mr. President and borne out of altruistic motivation
is now being twisted, manipulated and politicised to
suit certain political end.
“Mr. President made the request against the backdrop
of the devastation of the Northeast zone and the need
for international organisations to rise in support of the
efforts of the Nigeria government in arresting the
humanitarian crisis in that part of the country.
“The inhuman conditions of the Internally Displaced
Persons were also discussed and Mr. President urged
the World Bank to look into the best possible ways to
address the crisis before it got out of hand.
“In Edo State at that period, the government I headed
was also buffeted with the challenge of dealing with
internally displaced persons who came to settle in the
outskirt of Benin City without the knowledge of the
state government.
“It took my personal intervention and the cooperation
of Mr. President before we could offer our logistic
assistance to make their location habitable to avert
any humanitarian crisis.
“For those who are familiar with the devastation of the
North-East, where over 20,000 persons have
reportedly been killed with over two million internally
displaced persons, it smacks of political notoriety for
any rational mind to question the request of Mr.
President.
“President Buhari remains a statesman, who is not
only patriotic and altruistic in his intentions, but one
whose actions speak volume for our unity of purpose.
“We should see the country as one indivisible entity
driven by common objectives and goals.”
TheCable
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