Monday, 5 September 2011

Why Jonathan, other world leaders moved against Gaddafi


Fresh facts emerged yesterday that the sudden discovery of an Al-Qaeda and bomb-training ground in Muttabi in Libya accounted for why world leaders, including President Goodluck Jonathan, moved against the embattled Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi.
Also, the Federal Government has said that the relationship of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo with Gaddafi will not affect the nation’s support for Libyan rebels who have formed the Transitional National Council (TNC) to oust Gaddafi.



A top government official, who spoke in confidence, said most world leaders felt Gaddafi had been bankrolling Al-Qaeda’s terrorist attacks in many countries.
The source said that it took many years of investigation to uncover the covert financing of terrorism by Gaddafi.

He said: “Recent discovery indicated that Gaddafi had been operating a training ground in Muttabi where many insurgents, including members of the Boko Haram in Nigeria, are being trained in the art of making bombs and suicide bombing.
“The world leaders felt his cup was full and they had to move against him. The last to join the fray against Gaddafi was Russia , which had been a long standing ally of Gaddafi.

“The convincing evidence of terrorism placed before Russia informed its withdrawal of support for Gaddafi.
“World leaders are tired of terrorism and in their determination to ensure global peace, they chose to cut Gaddafi to size.”
On why Nigeria decided to back the Libyan Transitional National Council, the top Presidency source added: “Gaddafi has never hidden his disdain for the continued survival of this nation as one.

“Last year, he said openly that Nigeria should split, and he has been working towards that since 1997. He has been undermining our internal security.
“For instance, when a former Chief of General Staff, Lt. Gen. Oladipo Diya narrowly cheated death through bomb explosion in 1997, intelligence report showed that Gaddafi had a hand in it.
“The two suspects behind the botched bombing of Diya’s plane (otherwise called Sumaila and Sumaila) were trained in Muttabi in Libya too.

“During the administration of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, he persuaded Gaddafi to invest in the nation’s refineries, especially in Port Harcourt. But Gaddafi said he would prefer the refinery in Kaduna because Nigeria would break up by 2004. That was how his planned investment in our refineries was jettisoned when the Kaduna Refinery was not conceded to him.
“So, you can see that having had our share of terrorist attacks, we cannot afford to sit on the fence. Gaddafi had never wished Nigeria well.”

On the relationship between Obasanjo and Gaddafi, the government source said: “It has no effect on the recognition given to the TNC in Libya by the Federal Government.
“All along, the ex-President knew the kind of person Gaddafi is. But he said he has been courting him for the sake of peace and security in Nigeria .
“When Obasanjo was in power, each time he was asked why he was relating with Gaddafi, he always said that whoever would not allow you to enjoy your meal to the fullest, you add his own from the outset.

“Obasanjo saw Gaddafi as a threat and he cultivated him to reduce tension in Africa. I think that approach also succeeded to some extent.
“The ex-President understands the position of the Federal Government, and as a nationalist, he appreciates the fact that Nigeria ’s interest is above any other consideration. Can you really call Gaddafi a friend of Obasanjo?’’

The Nation

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