…Says they cannot be trusted
…Suggests Direct payment to host communities
From Idu Jude, Abuja
As the Federal Government of Nigeria delves into the implementation of Petroleum Industries Act PIB signed into law by former President Mohammadu Buhari, a Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress APC, Dr Garus Gololo, has allayed fears, with an indication that the 13 percent meant for the host communities, should not pass through the states Governors, owing to embezzlement.
Dr Gololo, gave the indication, over the Weekend in Abuja, while appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to muster the political will in ensuring that host communities are not cheated again by the State Governors.
Recall that the protracted salient matter on the poor infrastructures within the host communities led to the agitation for direct payment of the allocated funds to the people directly affected without passing through State Governors.
The former APC Board of Trustee, BOT, further, observed that the states Governors in the past has shown no remorse in judicious implementation of funds allocated to their states.
Dr, Gololo, said ” I can tell you unequivocally that many times, the Governors has failed their peoples’ and the last time former President Mohammadu Buhari thought of paying Federal allocation directly to the local government authorities, one of the Governors went to court in protest. We can count so many other related events, and like the days of sharing COVID 19 parlliatives. It took few aggrieved citizens to uncover where the governors hid the packages. What about the subsidy parlliatives which was meant to cushion the effects of the new policy. Can anyone tell me to what extent such has been implemented? Can anyone show me one of the states that had successfully given it to the less privileged among us? Why should the governors who are already sitting on so much be the ones to share everything which may end up in their individual pockets?
While suggesting possible ways to end shady implementation of such funds to the localities, he however, opined that the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should as a matter of fact, ensure that a standing committee carefully selected from members of National Assembly or from neutral bodies to be in charge of oil Darivation fund implementation among the host communities.
“I know that most Governors are patiently waiting for this money to come just like they have been sharing that of Federal allocation without good projects or infrastructures. We all know that some of them come to Abuja, take pictures of some well constructed roads and showcase them on television to claim the work they did in their various states. But when you get down to the states you would be surprised at what you see. So, I strongly believe that if the money is meant to pass through a Federal Government committee, the host communities would rejoice and Nigeria would have a sigh of relief”.
In a like manner, the former Army general, further advised the President not to make the mistake of awarding pipeline monitoring contract to another Nigerian other than Mr. Tompolo, who has distinguished himself since the administration of late President Umaru Musa Ya’ adua and former President Good Luck Jonathan.
He said that Mr. Tompolo, has shown class in the Niger Delta in the field of pipeline protection against vandals. ” I can tell you this because, as an Army general, I worked in the Niger Delta. I can tell you that Tompolo, has what it takes and what he has done in the past is a testament to what Iam saying. I suggested to Me President and I know he would listen because he do listen to my advises. I asked him never to give this job to another person like Asari Dokubo or anyone else not even the Military and this is because the job is that of civil matters. The military has its job defined and we knew it. So such internal security matters shouldn’t go to them. I can tell you that Mr. Tompolo, knows the terrain more than the Navy or any other security agencies in the Niger Delta. He knows the oil thieves and he even arrested some of them and handed over to the federal government sometimes in the past, I hope we get it right this time around”.