BRIBERY ALLEGATION AGAINST AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON FUEL SUBSIDY: THE INTEGRITY OF THE REPORT CANNOT BE TREATED IN ISOLATION OF THE EMERGING FACTS

PRESS STATEMENT ON BRIBERY ALLEGATION AGAINST THE HOUSE AD-HOC COMMITTEE ON FUEL SUBSIDY FUNDS: THE INTEGRITY OF THE REPORT CANNOT BE TREATED IN ISOLATION OF THE EMERGING FACTS

The bribery allegations rocking the Farouk Lawan led Ad-hoc Committee Report on Petrol Subsidy Funds is not a good sign at all for the precarious and tottering state of the Nigerian nation.

We note with painful concern the attendant implication on the psyche and morale of Nigerians in particular and the polity in general.

However, while we acknowledge the emerging issues and agree that the grave allegations if proven must not be allowed to overshadow the overall substance of the Committee’s Report {(which we have read in toto, and the soul of which is consistent with our own earlier Report in January 2012 on the Fuel Subsidy issue, entitled: “A Critical Analysis and Objective Appraisal of the Fuel Subsidy Issue and the Economy-The untold Truths and Insincerity of the Jonathan Administration); Please see our Report here: http://www.consciencereports.tv/articlesdisplay.php?id=40}, we insist that the integrity of the Report and the Committee that handled it cannot be treated in isolation of the emerging issues. In other words, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant Security Agencies must verify the authenticity of the alleged video and audio recordings proving the culpability or otherwise of the Committee Leaders, and must equally move beyond that to investigate if there is a grand design by the Executive arm of government at the centre and its powerful lobbyists, especially in the petroleum sector, to rubbish the substance of the Report in order to confine it to the dustbin of failed Reports; after all, it is the Presidency that earlier said that the work of the House Ad-hoc Committee and indeed the entire House of Representatives Plenary session on it was not binding on it, and therefore of no effect. According to the Presidency, it was a mere Resolution and Fact Finding Mission, when it actuality, it was a similar Resolution, and so-called “Doctrine of Necessity” by the House and its Senate counterpart that brought the incumbent President to Power in 2010, when a then powerful cabal was preventing him from becoming President. How quickly those in government and power in Nigeria forget where they are coming from! We also question seriously the sincerity of Otunba Femi Otedola. Why for instance, did it take him that long to open up if truly he is innocent, and if indeed it was a sting operation by the State Security Service (SSS) as he claimed? Why this long, and why now? He too must come clean, as should the Leaders of the House Ad-hoc Committee. Surely, there appears to be an orchestrated design to frustrate the longings and aspirations of the Nigerian people to speak truth to power and punish corruption and malfeasance.

We therefore call on the government not to test further the will and patience of the Nigerian people. We demand that the Jonathan Administration implement the overall substance of the Report which is very much in tandem with our earlier Report and Analysis conducted and researched independently. We also demand that the Administration desist further from needless meddling in the operations of the EFCC and other Security Agencies, and allow them to do their work without undue interference. In addition, we task the EFCC and the other Security Agencies to investigate the bribery allegations without fear, favour or sentiments, and ensure that the substance of the Report with respect to corruption and malfeasance in high places are dealt with accordingly.

We sustain once more our stand that the integrity of the Report and the House Ad-hoc Committee cannot be treated in isolation of the emerging facts if proven, and we maintain our resolve that it is high time the Jonathan Administration double down its efforts on corruption and all forms of malfeasance and misconduct if it truly want to be taken seriously by both Nigerians and the International Community.

With unyielding hope and abiding faith,

               Eneruvie Enakoko

Editor in Chief & Chief Executive