As President Goodluck Jonathan and senior government officials including cabinet members sojourn in the Holy Land of Jerusalem on a pilgrimmage, sources close to the powerbrokers have said that Nigeria’s number 1 citizen may bar the embattled Aviation minister from the signing of the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) on Monday in Tel Aviv.
The stance of the President is reportedly being motivated by the heat of unfavourable public opinion of Stella Oduah’s alleged corrupt practices as Aviation minister.
One source said, “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.”
Sources say most of the powerbrokers want Stella Oduah dropped from the cabinet so as to salvage the image of the administration and help lend backbone to its rhetoric on anti-corruption.