Stella Oduah seeks audience with President Jonathan

The embattled Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, has
commenced last- ditch efforts to save her job.
The PUNCH learnt on Sunday that she had used the last few
days seeking private audience with President Goodluck
Jonathan.
On Friday for instance, she was sighted at the Presidential
Villa in Abuja as calls by groups for her removal over the
purchase of two BMW bulletproof cars for her by the
Nigerian Civil Aviation authority heightened.
The NCAA spent a whopping $1.6m(N225m) on the two cars
which market value is N36m each.
A very reliable Presidency source, who disclosed Oduah's visit
to the Villa, said she "wanted to explain herself to the
President, who like every Nigerian, was embarrassed by the
media reports and the evidence of the purchase of the two
cars at an outrageous sum of N225m."
The source said, "She was here (Villa) on Friday but like you
know, Mr. President was busy throughout the weekend."
When asked if Oduah eventually saw Jonathan, he replied, "I
cannot tell for sure if the minister who looked worried saw
him or not."
However, the source dismissed speculations that Oduah, who
is to appear before the Senate this week over the crisis facing
the Aviation industry, was at the Villa to beg the President to
prevent possible sanctions.
He stated that should she decide to beg, she would most likely
reach out to highly placed Nigerians who have the ears of the
President.
The source mentioned the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic
Party Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih; former President
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; and Ijaw National Leader, Chief
Edwin Clark, as such prominent Nigerians.
Our correspondents gathered that apart from the calls from
outside government circle for her sacking, some of her
colleagues are believed to be telling people close to her to
advise her to voluntarily quit in order to save the Jonathan
administration further embarrassment.
A female minister is said to be leading the campaign as she
sees this as an opportunity to get even with Oduah.
It was learnt that a female minister, who allegedly bought a
private jet, has been angry that Oduah was the prime suspect
in an embarrassing publication involving the leasing of the jet
at outrageous sums per trips made by top government
officials.
Investigations also revealed that the release of the
documents on the purchase of the two vehicles was likely the
fallout of infighting among female ministers in the President's
cabinet.
Meanwhile, strong indications emerged on Sunday that the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may probe the
bulletproof car scandal.
A source at the EFCC said the scandal came as a shock to
most of his colleagues.
The source said, "Like you and all other Nigerians, it is natural
that all of us are shocked by what happened. I think you
should hold it there until events unfold."
The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters,
Ahmed Gulak, had in an interview with one of our
correspondents, assured Nigerians that the President would
not shield the minister if found culpable.
He had said, "I can assure you that President Jonathan will
not shield the minister or any government official for that
matter if he receives information that is true."
Meanwhile, Ms. Oduah is expected to appear before the
Senate as the Senate resumes plenary on Tuesday.
The Senate had summoned her and heads of parastatals under
the Aviation ministry over the air accidents in the country.
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone provided by Airtel Nigeria.