Ahead May 29: Jonathan moves personal belongings out of Aso Rock

■ Probes leaked congratulatory conversation with Buhari

President Good­luck Jonathan and his fam­ily have begun to move their personal be­longings out of the Presi­dential Villa ahead of the May 29 inauguration of the in-coming administra­tion of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

This is even as the presi­dency has ordered a probe of the leakage of President Jonathan’s conversation with Gen. Buhari on Tues­day March 31st.

The president had at 5.15 pm, called Gen. Buhari, winner of last Saturday’s presidential polls on the plat­form of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to concede defeat and congratulate him and few minutes later, the conversation was already in the public domain.

A presidency source who pleaded anonymity while confirming the probe, said the action has caused the seat of power serious em­barrassment.

The source who was seen listening to the conversation again with some colleagues, said the probe is to ascertain whether the recording was leaked from the presidency or was made public from Buhari’s camp.

The source further dis­closed that should it be con­firmed that it was leaked from the presidency, those found culpable will face ap­propriate punishment.

“Definitely, unauthorised release of a raw recording of the President’s telephone conversation, if from our (Presidency’s) end is a se­curity breach that cannot go without being investigated,” the source said.

Meanwhile, the first fam­ily has started moving their personal belongings out of the Presidential Villa, Abu­ja, following the failure of President Jonathan to win his re-election.

A white 18-seater Hiace bus marked PF 6244 AL, was seen after the Good Friday service, beside the official residence of the first family, loaded with boxes and bags of different shades and sizes.

The early removal of their personal effects may not be unconnected with the need for the renovation of the residence ahead of the May 29 inauguration.