NIGERIA- President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has described a letter sent to him on the state of the Nation by former Olusegun Obasanjo as unpatriotic, self-serving and malicious, adding that he will soon reply him in full measure.

Jonathan disclosed this through a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Reuben Abati, adding that the allegations were baseless and indecorous.

The statement said President Jonathan has directed that none of his aids should reply the allegations from Obasanjo, where the ex-president accused Jonathan of lying, condoning corruption, and leading Nigeria to the brink of collapse.

Mr. Abati said, “While many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land, President Jonathan has directed that none of his aides or any government official should join issues with Chief Obasanjo over it.”

“The president himself will, at the appropriate time, offer a full personal response to the most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous charges levelled against him and his administration by the former Head of State.”

In the highly acerbic letter, Mr. Obasanjo laid out a series of allegations against Mr. Jonathan, accusing him of corruption and ineptitude.

According to sources, Obasanjo blamed Jonathan for the crises rocking the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and accused him of lacking in personal integrity by consistently lying about his ambition for a new term in office.

Below is the reply by Reuben Abati to Obasanjo’s letter as gathered from a source;

OBASANJO’S LETTER UNBECOMING, SELF-SERVING AND HIGHLY PROVOCATIVE

We have noted the publication on several websites today of a letter recently written by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The Presidency acknowledges that it has indeed received the said letter from Chief Obasanjo.

We however find it highly unbecoming, mischievous and provocative that a letter written by a former Head of State and respected elder statesman to President Jonathan  has been deliberately leaked to the mass media in a deplorable effort to impugn the integrity of the President and denigrate his commitment to giving Nigeria the best possible leadership.

While many patriotic, objective and well-meaning Nigerians have already condemned the leaked letter as self-serving, hypocritical, malicious, indecent, and very disrespectful of the highest office in the land, President Jonathan has directed that none of his aides or any government official should join issues with Chief Obasanjo over it.

The President himself will, at the appropriate time, offer a full personal response to the most reckless, baseless, unjustifiable and indecorous charges levied against him and his administration by the former Head of State.

Reuben Abati

Special Adviser to the President