Report: Presidency hands down “tactical suspension” to Aviation Minister, Stella Oduah

by Rachel Ogbu
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There are high indications that the President may have sent the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah on “tactical suspension,” which is the colourful phrase being used to define her state at the moment.

News findings claim the “tactical suspension”came prior to signing the Bilateral Air Service Agreement between Nigeria and Israel on Monday October 28.

Oduah has been under scrutiny following the purchase of two bulletproof cars worth N255m. Yesterday, Minister of State (1) for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, was authorised to sign the BASA agreement instead of Oduah who was previously given the assignment sparking more rumours that she had indeed been suspended.

Nigerian Eye quotes a source as explaining ‘tactical suspension’ to mean “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.”

The online news platform also said that the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Ahmed Gulak insisted that Oduah who was in Israel during the signing did not travel on the entourage of the President.

“Did you see them (Jonathan and the minister) together in Israel? The President will not associate or shield anybody found to be corrupt. That is why he set up that panel because he will not want to act based on media reports,” Gulak said.

The President on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati also reportedly spoke to Nigerian Eye on the issue of “tactical suspension.” “She (Oduah) was actually in attendance at the signing of the BASA. She was involved in framing the technical details of, and in preparing the agreement along with her Israeli counterpart. That done, the Foreign ministries moved in at the level of G2 diplomacy.”

Finally the Peoples Democratic Party weighed in on the matter saying whoever was found culpable would face the law because PDP would never condone any form of graft. “The position of our great party on corruption is unambiguous and our zero tolerance for corrupt practices abounds in practical examples,” PDP National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh said in a statement.

“To us as a party, the accusation of corruption in the Aviation ministry is a big worry. It is for this reason that the President and the leader of our party has set up a panel to investigate the matter while the National Assembly which we also lead has stepped in.”

The House committee is currently probing the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority for the minister.

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