discrepancies in the financial affairs of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi
stated at first that a sum of $49.8 billion in oil funds had been
unaccounted for by the NNPC.
That sum has since then been changed to $12 billion and more recently,
$20 billion. This back and forth and the seriousness of the
allegations levelled have become a cause for concern to many
Nigerians.
Former Lagos Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to have stated that
the Federal Government has turned the NNPC into an Automated Teller
Machine (ATM).
Read full statement below:
Former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the All
Progressives Congress of Nigeria, APC, has described the Jonathan led
government as one that routinely abuses power and manipulates the
people. Speaking as After Dinner speaker and special guest of honor at
the NG Annual Dinner in Lagos at the Muson Center on Thursday February
6, 2014, Tinubu went to great length to draw a distinction between the
PDP and the APC.
He was unsparing when he blamed the Jonathan led PDP government as
one spinning recklessly out of control in terms of spending,
corruption in the oil sector and other slush funds channelled through
government programs to fill the pockets of party loyalists. Tinubu
noted that Nigerians are yet to get a satisfactory explanation on the
400,000 barrels per day that is stolen. He opined that the NNPC has
been converted into an ATM.
'Like I have maintained previously, the Sure-P project is a drain
pipe. A slush fund for political patronage. For instance, the N253.5
billion alleged to have being spent on projects by the Federal
government as at December 2013 is not reflective in the lives of
ordinary Nigerians. In 2012, about N180 Billion accrued to the Federal
Government in Sure-P alone'.
Under the heavy weight of corruption, heavy dose of insecurity, the
ticking time bomb of youth unemployment and a near total absence of
institutional rationalization, Nigeria under President Jonathan
clutches on like a battered engine in need of a complete overhaul. In
fact, a change of engine.
Tinubu who spoke in a very conversational tone at the Dinner used his
experience as the governor of Lagos as a tool to examine what is wrong
with Nigeria today both politically and economically. According to
him, Nigeria punches below its weight and is trapped in a
disarticulated economy occasioning poverty and frustration on people.
'The AFDB, in its African Economic Outlook report of 2013 revealed
that poverty has worsened since 1996 and through 11 years of the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rule.
The efforts of President Jonathan's government at combating poverty
were also faulted'. The former governor of Lagos State asserted that
under the current economic environment, it is almost impossible for
Nigeria to meet any of the predictions about its prosperity.
'The projection that Nigeria will soon emerge, at least in the next
30 years alongside three other countries as an economic giant by the
British Economist, Jim O'Neil will for long be a mirage. O'Neil
predicted that Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey are to become
what he refers to as 'MINT'. We all know that this is another
Vision 2020 gimmick.
A very distant hope with no chance of coming to fruition. Let us not
for once, delude ourselves that this is possible. A country that is
yet to export the smallest plastic product or one that generates a
miserable 12 per cent of the total energy needs of the country can
never be a candidate for 'MINT', 'BRICS' (Brazil, Russia,
India, China and South Africa) and as we now know, Vision 2020. Our
energy woes abide'.
Tinubu was on call to explain the vision and mission of the new party,
APC and offer an insight into the ideology of the party. 'We formed
this party to improve the lot and the lives of those who don't have.
We formed it to bring dignity, hope, justice and the reality of
prosperity to those Nigerians who seek these things.The PDP has never
been a friend of the people and each year it becomes less of one. They
have turned their backs on the people. Now it is time the people turn
their backs against the PDP.
The PDP claims we don't have an ideology. We have an ideology but it
is one PDP can't understand. What the arrogant and mean don't
understand, they pretend does not exist.
One can no longer dance on both sides of the fence. Either you are
resolute for justice or for injustice. Stake your claim and sign your
name to it so history may record your decision and your deeds at this
critical hour.
For me, I have but one life thus I have but one choice. I choose the
right way. I follow the APC. I urge you all to hitch a ride on the
rescue mission APC is about and rally for change and the re-building
of a Nigeria that meets our dream. Tinubu said.
'We have come to a moment in time when there is no time to waffle,
obfuscate or prattle. Beginning from now and as we march toward the
elections of 2015, the people shall decide whether they want to
enshrine injustice, inequality and the rule of arbitrary might over
their lives or do they want to build a finer existence where the light
of fairness, prosperity and the rule of law shines on all. '
The NG dinner, held once a year is an association of core
professionals drawn from diverse fields and mostly Lagos based. The NG
group formed in 1998 has produced a number of governors, Ministers,
commissioners and key functionaries. It is an informal think tank, a
sounding board of sorts for government types and policy makers.
Mr. Wale Edun, the chairman of the NG group welcomed all members and
expressed delight that Governor Tinubu found time to honor their
invitation.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.
No comments:
Post a Comment