2023: Jonathan Disappoints ‘Doubting Thomases’, Shuns APC Screening, Okorocha’s Fate Unknown

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan effectively disappointed the ‘doubting Thomases’ with his non-appearance before the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led screening panel for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirants.

Amid controversies and speculations about the possible clandestine submission of his proxies’ purchased nomination and expression of interest forms, the former president was nowhere near to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel that hosted the screening exercise.

Confirmed reports said he was in faraway Milan, Italy attending Milan, attending a high-level advisory board meeting of the European Corporate Council on Africa and the Middle East (ECAM) Council.

Jonathan’s absence was among the day’s highlights as the screening Committee concluded its two-day assignment on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

On the list of those screened on Tuesday were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Niger Delta Minister, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, former Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former House Speaker Dimeji Bankole and Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State among others.

Speaking on the exercise, Senator Akpabio said the screening was rigorous. “I think it is quite rigorous and the checklist is very good.

“At least, they will be able to know the aspirants in totality and also get their idea of how they are doing to run the affairs of the country and take the country from the present level to the next level. The array of politicians I have seen there are people who are grassroots-based”, he stated.

On the issue of consensus, Akpabio said the party is supreme and must be obeyed.

He also spoke about the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, saying he is only popular in the PDP and not in the country.

However, the fate of Imo West Senator, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was still hanging in the balance as the possibility of his appearing before the committee for screening appeared dim.

Having secured bail to be released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC earlier in the day, the embattled presidential aspirant appears to have made it to the screening exercise before the close of the day on Tuesday.

As of 8:45 pm, there were no signs of the former Imo State Governor but unconfirmed reports said he became the 24th aspirant to be screened after arriving at the venue ahead of the Tuesday 12 midnight deadline.

It was not immediately known how the Imo West Senator wriggled out of the custody of EFCC, which amid shouts and protests by his supporters, on Tuesday whisked him away on the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Okorocha was ordered to remain in the custody of the anti-graft agency until he fully perfects the stringent bail conditions imposed on him. Immediately after the court order was made, operatives of the EFCC led him away amid tight security and shouting by his sympathisers who had come to witness the proceedings.

 Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court had imposed stringent bail conditions on Okorocha who is standing trial in an alleged N2.9bn corruption charges. The Judge admitted the ex-governor to bail in the sum of N500m and one surety in the like sum.

Equally admitted to bail by Justice Inyang Ekwo is his co-accused, Anyim Nyerere who was arraigned with him on a 17-count money laundering charge.

In the case of Nyerere, the court ordered that he should continue on the administrative bail granted him by EFCC, for exhibiting good conduct while on bail.

The Judge however said that the circumstances and conduct of Okorocha would not make the court extend the same customary bail condition to him. He, therefore, ordered that Okorocha’s surety must have a property in Abuja, not below N500m and the original title documents of the property must be deposited with the court Registrar.