Jonathan Takes Action: Places Stella Oduah On "Suspension"

Following startling revelations from the National Assembly probe in the Stella saga, President Goodluck Jonathan, it appears, has finally placed the embattled Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, on what is described as a "tactical suspension", pending the submission his probe panel report.

“Oduah will not be allowed to attend public functions that will have the President in attendance until the three-member committee set up to investigate the matter turns in its report.”A reliable Presidency source said Jonathan decided on the 'tactical suspension' hours before the signing of the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Israel on Monday.

Recalled that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, George Ossi, told the House of Representatives Committee probing Stella Oduah that she led a Nigerian delegation to Israel to sign the BASA. But that did not happen as she was rendered a mere spectator.

It was the ‘suspension’ that made Jonathan to direct the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Viola Onwuliri, to sign the agreement instead of Oduah on behalf of Nigeria.

In what seemed a corroboration of the “tactical suspension,” the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Mr. Ahmed Gulak, insisted that Jonathan would not associate with or shield anybody found to be corrupt. He told Punch that Stella Oduah is not even part of Jonathan's delegates.

“Did you see them (Jonathan and the minister) together in Israel? The President will not associate or shield anybody found to be corrupt,” Gulak said.

Meanwhile, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party said on Tuesday that it was worried by the bulletproof car scandal. Surprisingly, PDP assured Nigerians that whoever was found culpable would face the law because it (PDP) would never condone any form of graft.

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The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday spoke on the controversial N255 million bulletproof BMW cars, saying the embattled aviation minister, Stella Oduah, is on her own.

This is the first time the PDP is reacting to the scandal that has elicited public outcry. President Goodluck Jonathan had, last week, constituted a three-man probe panel to investigate the transaction.

The PDP had, in the wake of the Associated Airline crash, extolled Oduah as one of its high-performing ministers.

The PDP-dominated House of Representatives has also instituted an investigation into the matter.

Describing the scandal as a source of worry, PDP maintained that the minister, like others in the party, must face the law. Its zero tolerance for corruption, the party said, will not be compromised.

While expressing its desire not to cover up any act of corruption in the scandal, the party said Oduah and others involved should brace up to face the full course of the law like some members of the top leadership of the party or their relatives who faced corruption charges.

National publicity secretary of the PDP Chief Olisa Metuh said the position of the party on corruption is unambiguous. "The position of our great party on corruption is unambiguous and our zero tolerance for corrupt practices abounds in practical examples, because our founding fathers placed utmost premium on transparent and accountable government as a fulcrum for achieving a Nigeria of our dream.