|
|
Amid speculations that he intends to circumvent the 1999 Constitution to continue in office after 2007, President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday night evaded the question that would have put paid to the issue that is generating tension across the nation.
Fielding questions on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) programme, 'The President Speaks', anchored by Mr. Cyril Stober, a caller from Sokoto had asked the President to comment on the speculations that he wanted an extra term. Rather than address the question, the President went into a long-winding story about the reforms programme of his government thus cleverly evading the issue.
His response: "It depends on what things you are talking about. We have been talking about the economy, the monetary and financial part of the economy. Let me put it this way, when we came into government we decided that there are six of the developmental aspects of the economy that we would identify and take on. One is oil. Before we came in, oil and gas used to be taken together but when we came in we said no, we want to separate gas from oil. Because when oil, and gas was taken together, gas suffered, attention was paid to oil.
"In fact, it is because gas suffered that is why we still continued to flare gas. If initially we had separated gas from oil and taken it as serious a long time ago, we would have stopped gas flaring. In oil for instance, what we want to achieve by the year 2007/2008 is for us to have a proven reserve of 40 billion barrels and then to be able to produce four million barrels of oil per day, we are now in a position to produce three million."
He continued: "We have Bonga which just came into production, this year they have improved the production to about 250, 000. We have started one train of LNG, 4 trains are now producing and we are building the 5th and the 6th will soon be built. In addition, there are two more LNG projects that are in the pipeline and before the end of next year, there will be decision on investment. And if we go on the way we are going on now in gas, in another 3 or 4 years, we will be the largest gas producer in the world, so we are doing fairly well."
While he, however, cleverly avoided the third term question, the President restated earlier warnings to those allegedly planning to destabilise the government, saying his administration would not sit by and watch the country dragged down.
Responding to a question by the programmes host, he said: "There are two things that have happened and I believe it is unfortunate. One has much to do with politics in such a way that will affect the polity. Two, when you have people with doubtful credentials trying to tear the credentials of others so that others can look like them and they are bent on leaving no stone unturned in doing this, it cannot be healthy for the nation.
"For instance, if a group of people get together and say 'o yes, we have now seen,' without any substance at all that the census of March next year will lead to crisis, that is an indication that they are up to something that will make the census to lead to crisis, otherwise I dont see why that will come into the reckoning of anybody. O that Sgt Rogers and Col. Yakassai have been re-absorbed into the Army so that they can be the hatchet people for this government. It is utterly irresponsible because there is nothing like that. So when you put all these things together, not one not two and from the same group of people and of course this government will not allow this country to be dragged down again."
Meanwhile, the President yesterday ordered that all defence and security personnel in the Niger Delta be placed in a state of "high alert," following the spate of recent attacks on oil installations in the area. He gave the order at a meeting with senior members of the nation's security and intelligence communities.
According to a statement yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant on Media. Mrs. Oluremi Oyo, the meeting was called to review the security situation in the Niger Delta following two pipeline explosions in the region in the past few days.
While addressing security chiefs at the meeting, Obasanjo reaffirmed the determination of the Federal Government to provide adequate protection for persons and oil installations in the Niger Delta. "We will not abandon this country to brigands. Criminals must be chased, caught and punished," he told the defence and security chiefs.
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Top of Page - [ Discuss this story ]
Related Articles
Search Results
| |
Get NaijaPost Articles Free!!!
We'll supply you with JavaScript modules that links
your web site
directily to custom
headline news
>> Click here to begin
|
 |
National News
Latest Headlines
|
|
|
Email this article
