From DENNIS MERNYI, Abuja
As the controversy generated by disclosures from the Nuhu Ribadu led Petroleum Revenue Task Force (PRTF) which implicated government officials heighten, President Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to sack both the Petroleum Resources and Finance Ministers, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala respectively. Jonathan was also been charged to sack the boards and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC),
Pipelines and Products Company of Nigeria (PPMC), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to give way for the total clean-up of the country’s oil and gas industry. Addressing newsmen in Abuja Wednesday, Mr. Jaye Gaskia, National Convener of United Action for Democracy (UAD) and leader of the group further threatens to mobilize Nigerians to stage a mass protest in the city of Abuja should the president fail to heed to their demands.
Referring to the Ribadu panel which revealed theft in the country’s oil and gas sector to the tune of over $29 billion to price fixing and contract scams with additional $6 billion lost annually and 250,000 barrels of crude daily over the last ten years, Gaskia noted that Nigeria lost an equivalent of the total budget for 4 years in the past ten years.
We are worried and concerned enough as patriotic citizens of our country to reach the conclusion that something drastic, immediate, and far reaching must be urgently done to end all forms of impunity in the governance of our country, and begin the process of salvaging Nigeria. “We declare without fear or favour that with the campaign tagged, ‘End Impunity Now’ we insist that because of the endemic nature and systemic character of corruption in the country the process of ending impunity begins immediately with the tackling of corruption’.
“And we had gone on to make some key demands including: sacking of the boards and management of the institutions of government implicated in the mind boggling and monumental fraud in the management of the fuel subsidy regime for 2011, a fraud which as at the time of the various probes amounted to over 1.7 trillion naira, and just about 45 percent of the 2011 federal budget. We have been clear about the fact that the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and its minister, as well as the NNPC, DPR, PPMC, PPPRA, bore direct and greatest responsibility in the monumental fraud”, he stated.
According to him, “We had also stated clearly that given that manifestation of the complete lack of coordination in the economy and among relevant agencies and institutions with respect to the management of the subsidy fund, combined with the fact that monies were signed and paid out from the Federation Account without the knowledge or authorization of the minister of finance, who is also the coordinating minister of the economy that her office bore indirect responsibility for the fraud and barefaced looting of the economy.
“We had thus demanded the sacking of all officials so implicated, and the trial of those with cases to answer. Additionally we had demanded that all subsidy thieves and those who aided and abetted them should be speedily brought to trial and looted funds recovered.
The group according to him has maintained its stand that the president should ensure accelerated prosecution and conviction of indicted oil marketers and the officials that collaborated with them to steal from the oil revenue and other sources with all their names published for the members of the public to know them and their level of involvements.
Also in his contribution, Rev. David Ugolor, Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) the groups would sustain the peaceful rally it started around the Abuja city yesterday until government heed to their demands failure to which a mass protest would be staged next month.
Jonathan Gudluck is making his own selfish money in office thru finance minister,petroleum minister & others and he can never ask them to resign d way he did to Pat Nnaji PHCN finance minister,Dg BPE Dr.Chris Anyanwu & others.All this things are happening he is aspiring for second term with support of useless pp in d country otherwise what stops him from sacking Ngosi Okonjo & Deaziani Mmadueke,d worst of all he refused to declare his assets publically.
I cry for my beloved country. Even when some corrupt few want to milk it dry it still keep producing. For how long will the masses be denied just the provision of basic social infra-structure? pls lets have rethink about these issues.
We are often too quick to condemn people who serve us.
Please let us wait for the formal release of the report and the Presodent’s reactions to it before we say anything.
This activist are funny people. Please read this excerpt from the report:
The 146-page confidential report, according to the international news agency, stated that Ministers of Petroleum Resources between 2008 and 2011 handed out seven discretionary oil licences. It said out of the deal, a total of $183m (N28.73bn) in signature bonuses paid by oil companies to the federation was missing
Three of the oil licences were said to have been awarded during the tenure of the current minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who took up her position in 2010.
This activist are funny people. What has Dr. Iweala got to do with the Ribadu report.
I smell something here. They just wanna muddle up the water. Please read this excerpt from the report:
The 146-page confidential report, according to the international news agency, stated that Ministers of Petroleum Resources between 2008 and 2011 handed out seven discretionary oil licences. It said out of the deal, a total of $183m (N28.73bn) in signature bonuses paid by oil companies to the federation was missing
Three of the oil licences were said to have been awarded during the tenure of the current minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, who took up her position in 2010.
Nigerians need to wake up! Let’s stop listening to charlatans and start following the voice of reason
Okonjo-Iweala’s involvement in bringing the subsidy thieves to book is undoubtedly beginning to yield results. Her other measures against corruption have been widely acclaimed. Now, why would you sack such a woman?
You don’t treat headache by cutting the head off. You cannot arrest corruption by sacking the minsters.
Gaskia or what ever u call ur self,if u sack a monkey and employ a dog,u stil have squating animal in the office.from the time the northerners are ruling nigeria there is subsidy,from the time northerners are finiance and petrolum ministers, even head and chairman of petrolum board there is subsidy,u never said a thing nor react to that.if u like march from hear to jeruselem,na u go tire.pls allow Mr President to rest.
The report said the theft had been on since ten years. Jonathan and his executive took over how many years ago? Why is Deziani and Okonjo Iweala now being made scapegoats? Some Nigerians are not fair to them. Pls hold them accountable for their own actions
@xtopher. I’m in love with ur submission. D truth is dat our northern brothers r not comfortable dat odas r handling diz sensitive positions. We, collectively, need to resist dem n dia ploy to distabilise d country. From boko haram to d raping of d economy; de shall not succeed.
ppls yrs to say if someone hate u. U cannot hate yr self. For Dr Ngozi ppls in house assembly did not want her and some Northerns.please Mr President investigate well b/4 take any action.
Mr or mrs xstoper, quitness is better 4 u when a good samartans ar contributin 4 our national development
@xtopher, o man dat na true talk oo. They can aswell match round the 36 states of this country, when they get tired they will rest.
There is no need asking Goodluck Ebitimi Jonathan to sack petroleum minister and others for he cannot do that for reasons known to him, when the National Assembly recommended the outright sack of Dg of Sec Aruma Oteh what did he do? let us allow the man to do whatever he likes during this his tenure, we have the right and opportunity to use our vote more wisely next time, Not allowing sentiments to over take us.
@ Good well Oleka, are u trying to say dat Ebere Jonathan Gudluck is romancing, fucking & well satisfying sexually by Oteh,Ngozi Okonjo Iwela & Deaziani Mmadueke dats why Ebere cud not sack them,and their husbands kept quite because their wives are bring huge stolen money to d house?
People can talk and is good.
Well meaning Nigeria who is righteous enough 2 sail dis country. Probers ar bunch of rogues, too bais dat they believ in sacking as a measure. These ar d talent women dat can co-adjut Mr. President achieve his plight. Who is dat square peg dat will firmly fit in dat round hole. Stop confusing him.
Imagine a country with such huge mineral resources, we can not manage our own country well. All we keep doing is to talk about oil theft here and there. Pres. Jonathan should critically espidise full action in bringing to justice all those involve in the scandal of oil exploitation and money theft. No stone should be left unturned 4 we are suffering on other people’s gruesome errors. This country must be better according to Gov. Rochas. Thank u.
This forum is clearly not for learned people. You hardly read any informed comment here. Everyone tend to use abusive and profane languages at random. @francis ekene becareful what you say in the public about your president.
Some people who are against removal of subsidy are now reacting by pressing 4 d removal of the finance minister and others. They had succeeded in misleading Nigerians away from the truth. But the truth remains that corruption will continue to dwell among us in so far as we allow subsidy to reign in our country.
Patrick u are right, so many ignorant people are in these forum, they dont even think b4 making any coment, wish we culd form another forum for great and objective minds
totally agreed with this group. the time has come that Nigerians should open their eyes and demand for justices at all cost. Long life Federal Republic of Nigeria
My people, the biggest THIEVES in government ministries are permanent secretaries, directors and other top officials not necessarily the Ministers but some of these top officials might covertly front for their Minsters whom they share out some of the loots to but if they remove or sack ministers alone without investigating properly the activities of their PSs, Directors etc, they are just wasting time and resources invested in such exercise because some of the PSs and directors are wealthy than some of the Ministers.
The only thing that can curb hyper corruption in this country is to introduce death penalty.
Can right tinkin nigerians help me so we 2geda sponsor a bill calld “activist shortup bill”.lt says dat an activist shal b immdiately apptd to any positn he criticizs d incunbent to effct d chang he is advocatin witin a priod of 1yr.failure 2effct d
chang advocatd,such a “noise maker” shal b summarily executd publicly.my broda if such bil com on board na massiv take cover.dat is d only tim we wil no tru & 419 activist.d truth is dat dia is a whole world of diffrens btw theory & practicals.
The two ministers should be sacked immediately, minister of finance and petroleum. MR President if you dont want your name to spoil, sack them now. These people have failed nigerians, their state,Lga,community and town, look at wha t is happening to Usa, learn frm experience, Mr President. Take action,action.
THIS GOVERNMENT HASN’T GOT ENOUGH BALLS TO IMPLEMENT THIS REPORT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS. This report will definitely go the way of Oputa Panel, Uwias panel and the 2011 post election panel reports and recommendations. DARKNESS CAN NEVER FIGHT DARKNESS. Let’s wait and see.
I am crying for this country . pls government do what is your mind only good not bad
Only GOD is perfect, allow GOD to judge. GOD is greater than human, weather d report is implemented or not. Even Nuhu R. has his own wrongs weather in d past or presently.
Dis country z doomd
Hey,why do you think jonathan wud hed your call to sack petroleum and finance minister.who gave the mandate in the first place.Did he tell you he didnt know all these while wat was happening.the implementation of ribadu’s reeport is a wild goose chase…