Prominent individuals and groups, on Friday took
a swipe at the Presidency over its rejection of the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led
Petroleum Special Task Force report.
The groups, including the Trade Union Congress,
the Campaign for Democracy and the Congress for Progressive Change warned
President Goodluck Jonathan against dumping the report.
Individuals who spoke included two prominent
lawyers, Yusuf Ali, SAN, and Tayo Oyetibo, SAN.
At a news conference in Abuja, Jonathan’s Special
Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, had based his criticism of the
report on one of its paragraphs.
Okupe said the paragraph “is an obvious
DISCLAIMER (emphasis his) issued by the committee on the entire report, and
makes it impossible under our laws to indict or punish anyone except, and
until, the Federal Government fully verifies and reconciles the facts as
recommended by the committee in its submission to the government.”
But faulting the Presidency, the
Secretary-General of the Trade Union Congress, Chief John Kolawole, said that
it was unfortunate the FG was rubbishing the panel’s report.
He stated, “The panel (the Ribadu task force) may
have probably not gone through the whole process, but it could be a way of
making the government to ensure that it is not swept under the carpet.”
Kolawole recalled that some consultants were
mentioned.
He said, “Who are the consultants? Are they not
consulting for the same Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation under probe?
Ribadu is a very experienced police investigation officer and he knows how to
go about his work.
“The government has gone too far in condemning
the work. The government should have told the panel to go back to its work. It
is as if the government had a vested interest in the whole thing.
“What we want in the country is a genuine fight
against corruption. Nigerians want transparency. The government has not said
something about the indicted people, about the issues raised. It is blaming the
panel’s activities on procedure but has refused to say something about the
findings.”
Kolawole said Nigerians were interested in the
report, adding that the government should do something about the people
mentioned and the lack of transparency in the oil sector.
The President, Campaign for Democracy, Dr. Joe
Okei-Odumakin, said she was not surprised by the Presidency’s reaction to the
report.
She said, “We have seen it before with the House
committee report on fuel subsidy. The intention of the Federal Government all
along was to use the committee as a diversion. It has to rubbish the report as
it has turned out a big indictment. The government needs political will to
fight corruption, although it is difficult for corruption to fight corruption.”
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff
Association’s Secretary General, Mr. Babatunde Ogun, said there was no need to
rubbish the report.
He stated, “The committee should have requested
more time to do a perfect and holistic job. Using unverifiable data will not
add bite and give the expected result from the report.”
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