N255m CAR SCANDAL: Aviation Minister To Lobby Jonathan In Israel To Save Her Job

Minister of Aviation, Ms Stella Oduah, has taken the lobby to retain her job to Israel, where she plans to see President Goodluck Jonathan.

The minister, who was said to have found it difficult to see the President in Abuja since the scandal broke out, was said to have also sent many emissaries to speak with the President on the matter. Though official sources said Oduah was in Israel to sign Bilateral services agreement on behalf of Nigeria with Israel.

It was gathered that she would use the meeting to inform the President that those mounting pressure on him to sack her were his political enemies who did not want him to contest the presidential election in 2015.

A source close to Oduah said, “The minister would use this argument to sway the President to her side.

“She would inform the President not to allow his enemies triumph over him and should also know that if those enemies succeed in pushing her out, then many of the trusted aides of the President would be the next target.”

It was also gathered that the meeting would also afford the minister the opportunity to seek audience with the National Security Adviser to the President, Sambo Dasuki, who is one of the members of the administrative panel set up by the President to investigate the minister. Sambo is also in Israel.

But the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Rueben Abati said, Oduah decided to travel to Israel ahead of the President rather than waiting to be part of his entourage, because presidential delegation was usually divided into segments.

He said in most of the trips, relevant ministers were expected to travel ahead in order to do the ground works for the President and brief him on arrival.

Abati also said that the Presidency did not grant the NCAA any approval to procure the controversial N255m vehicles for the embattled minister.

“I think people should stop speculating. We should allow that panel to do its job. We should not politicise its work. What they can remain assured of is that the President is interested in the matter,” Abati said.