Former Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar, Professor Kelvin Ogon Etta, at the weekend, came down hard on former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, saying he is the reason why the United States of America is refusing to sell sophisticated arms to Nigeria to fight Boko Haram insurgents.
He said the US was afraid of selling sophisticated arms to Nigeria because of what Obasanjo did in Odi and Zaki Biam during his tenure.
Etta, who stated this in a chat with newsmen in Calabar, at the weekend, commended President Goodluck Jonathan on how he was handling the Boko Haram insurgency, adding that, “unlike Obasanjo, Jonathan was very mindful of civilian casualties.”
“As you all know, Obasanjo levelled those places, applying sheer brute force. Do you guys know that is the simple reason United States will not sell sophisticated weapons to us to use against Boko Haram.”
“They are afraid that such arms could be used against the civilian elements, especially when emotion runs high. Even with Obasanjo’s high-handedness, the problem was not solved till late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua took over.”
The former VC also expressed satisfaction with Jonathan’s commitment to free and fair polls since 2011, as well as his international relations profile, roads and railways construction, agriculture amongst others.
On the issue of corruption in the country, the former VC said, “the president is doing his best because in democracy it is difficult to clamp people into jail with military fiat without passing through processes and international best practices.”
In his assessment of both General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonthan, he said, “in terms of human rights record, Jonathan has at least 50 per cent whereas Buhari has zero.
“On fighting corruption, I’ll give Jonathan 40 per cent. But Buhari says he will wipe it out in no time, and based on what he said, I’ll give him just 20 per cent even though I do not really know whether he can do it by wave of hands.
“Give Buhari 30 per cent on his ability to pursue agriculture development based on what he said, but Jonathan has done things that we can all see physically as such, I gave him 60 per cent.
“On road construction, give Buhari 50 per cent because he did well when he was in charge of Petroleum Trust Development Funds. But, give Jonathan 70 per cent for taking bold steps at turning around our roads across the vast landmass of Nigeria, and he is still doing roads up till tomorrow.”
He also expressed satisfaction with the president’s efforts at transforming and remodelling airports across the nation, inland waterway, gradual improvement on electricity amongst others, and believed that although the president may not have satisfied all segments of the Nigerian society, he was doing his best given the current challenges of insecurity.
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