Revealed!
Why Danjuma, Obasanjo parted ways
For several years as soldiers, Olusegun Obasanjo and Theophilus Danjuma were inseparable. Both had fought the war together, held several important offices in the army as they rose through the ranks.
When the assassin's bullet felled General Murtala Mohammed, it is said that Dajuma was one of the pillars of support that Obasanjo had on his way to becoming Head of State.
But fate played a cruel game in the second coming of Obasanjo as President. That was when things fell apart between two close allies and Danjuma known for his no-nonsense posture pulled out of the administration.
Ever since, many Nigerians have been trying to get to the bottom of what could have led to the parting of ways between the two men.
Now, Pointblanknews, an internet based magazine appears to have stumbled on the reason for the separation.
According to the publication, “More facts have surfaced on how former President Olusegun Obasanjo wielded the big stick and offered “protection” for Lagos billionaire, Mr. Aliko Dangote. New documents have surfaced showing that Chief Obasanjo prevented former Defense Minister, Lt. General Theophilus Y. Danjuma from sending Mr. Dangote to jail for tax evasion and callous neutralization of perceived competitors.
Quoting sources close to the three influential Nigerians, pointblanknews.com reported that Obasanjo's tendency to offer protection to Dangote at the expense of other long established industrial icons of Nigerian extraction “was what eventually led to the parting of ways between Obasanjo and his friend of 32 years, T.Y. Danjuma.”
Under condition of anonymity, pointblanknews.com was told that, while “a deep personal sense of betrayal from Obasanjo” could have led Danjuma to follow his own course in life, having once sworn that he would leave Nigeria for exile, in 1999, if Obasanjo was not voted into the presidency, the General was said to have been angered that his long existing salt-bagging company, Union Dicon salt was destroyed for DANSALT owned by Dangote.
The publication further reports, “It was said that Obasanjo was an “enabler”, who allowed DANSALT, built inside Apapa port to dodge taxes and cheat Nigerian government in duties, while other companies were paying through the nose.”
The magazine quoted a Transport Ministry Official as saying that “Dangote was the kid on the block as, he got all favors and his gains have always been a loss to the nation.” The competition between DANSALT and other companies was, described as unfair.
A former minister who served on the Federal Executive Council with T.Y. Danjuma reportedly said that the retired General once fumed openly at a council meeting in Abuja and “called Aliko a criminal who evaded taxes.”
