Jonathan Should Seek God's Forgiveness - Odumakin

National Publicity Secretary of pan- Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin on Monday said former president Goodluck Jonathan should seek the forgiveness of God for allegedly paying some Nigerians to write negative reports about former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

He spoke against the backdrop of a statement by Obasanjo where he alleged that Jonathan had paid Odumakin to write a book against him.

Odumakin had written a book titled 'Watch the Watcher' which is a rejoinder to Obasanjo's autobiography 'My Watch'. The book was published three weeks after the former President released three volumes of his book.

But Obasanjo, who said Odumakin's book should not be kept in a library by any serious-minded person, said the political activist was paid by Jonathan to write the book.

According to Obasanjo , "Yinka Odumakin was hired to do the hatchet job and he did it. It was part of the campaign of Goodluck Jonathan and he did serve the purpose of Goodluck Jonathan. But whether Goodluck Jonathan gained from it or Yinka Odumakin gained from it, well, it's now left to history.

"But how should I worry about that? That Yinka Odumakin was hired by Goodluck Jonathan to do a job, which he did and Yinka Odumakin didn't write anything to last. He wrote current affairs, not a book that anybody will seriously want to keep in his library and that's the way I see it. And a book should be something that somebody wants to keep in the library."

In his response, Odumakin, who said that the content of his book was not influenced by Obasanjo's book, however challenged the former president to point out anywhere in his book where he told any lies about him.

" I think Former president Goodluck Jonathan needs to ask forgiveness from God. Because how come one man will pay me to write a book on Obasanjo, the same Jonathan paid Iyabo Obasanjo to write a scathing letter to her father? The same Jonathan also paid Gbenga Obasanjo to depose to an affidavit in court accusing his father of sleeping with his wife".

"Whenever anyone criticizes Obasanjo's action, it is Jonathan that paid them to do that. Surely, Jonathan needs to seek God's forgiveness. What is Obasanjo's offence that he will be paying everybody to say negative things about him?".

"It is unfortunate that Obasanjo will not take responsibility for all his misconduct in the public affairs of Nigeria. When his daughter, Iyabo wrote him a letter and said that will be her last conversation with him on earth, and detailed all his wrongdoings, his attack dogs said it was Jonathan that sponsored her".

"So, if he could say that about his own daughter, why should I worry about what he says about me? The only thing is that I challenge him to dispute a fact or bring out a lie in what I wrote. While I wait for him to do that, I pray to my God that when I get to Obasanjo's present age, let no children of mine write to me the kind of letter his children are writing him" he said.