The raging war of words between President Muhammadu Buhari and former President Olusegin Obasanjo has been described as a healthy development for Nigeria.. A former Provost Marshal of the Nigeria Army, Brig. Gen. Idada Ikponmwen (rtd), made this view yesterday in a chat with Saturday Telegraph in Abuja. Ikponmwen said the cross-fire between the two retired military leaders would enable Nigerians to know the truth about certain issues affecting the country.
There has been apprehension in some quarters that the scathing criticisms launched by Obasanjo against the current administration and the reaction it had triggered from Buhari could hit up the polity ahead of the 2019 general elections. Ikopnmwen, who denied knowledge of any attempt by fellow retired military top brass to mediate in the altercation between Obasanjo and Buhari, said even such a mediation was not necessary as it could abridge the unfolding revelations from the drama.
He said: “If there is an altercation, let it be. The more there is altercation the better for us to know who is who. Let there be altercations. In fact, President Buhari should not just let the matter lie low. We expect that he should pursue the issues to a logical end.
“The issue of $16 billion invested in the power sector has come up. President Buhari said $16billion was committed to power during the regime of one former President. He didn’t mention names but then Chief Olusegun responded that it was directed at him and said Buhari is ignorant of the issues. He said nothing was traceable to him from past investigations on the matter. Investigation by who?”
