…Urges Yahaya Bello to surrender to EFCC
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Policy think-tank under the auspices of Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI), has claimed that the federal government is saving an average of N1 trillion monthly after removing fuel subsidy, which amounted to over N11 trillion.
IMPI Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, made the claims on Monday in Abuja at a press conference on the state of the nation, appealing to the former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to surrender to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He said: “Our findings indicated that the Tinubu economy saves an average of N1 trillion monthly from the withdrawal of petrol-subsidy in June 2023, while the three PDP regimes recorded a monthly loss from petrol-subsidy of N1 trillion over a period of 16 years, amounting to a total of N192 trillion. Little surprise, therefore, that Nigeria ranks among nations with the worst record of infrastructural deficit in the world.”
The group also described unnecessary controversy over the ongoing construction of the 700 kilo metre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a distraction to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s lofty ideas.
On Yahaya Bello’s face-off with the EFCC, the group said: “We find it incumbent to express our deep concern over the attitude of some public office holders who are fond of using their privileged positions to undermine the rule of law and the ongoing anti-corruption crusade.
“This is with particular reference to the recent stand-off between the former governor of Kogi state Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the EFCC. It is distasteful that elected public officers who are expected to be custodians of the law are displaying attitudes that are inimical to the rule of law and democracy.
“We, therefore, totally align ourselves with the position of the Chief Law Officer and Attorney General of the Federation on the matter. For us, the momentum created by the anti-corruption policy of the Tinubu administration should be sustained as we believe it is a non – partisan crusade against corruption,” the group advised.
Commenting on the construction of coastal highway, many described variously as highway to corruption, IMPI said: “We consider the unnecessary controversy over the ongoing construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a distraction to the lofty ideas of the President Tinubu administration to open up the economic potentials of Nigeria’s coastal belt.
“We therefore condemn the controversy thrown up in some segments of the society and urge all stakeholders in the project to pay no attention to attempts by unscrupulous elements to discredit the project,” he said.
While calling on the governors to refrain from acts capable of jeopardising the ongoing efforts by President Tinubu to secure the nation, Akinsiju said as Chief Security Officers in their respective states, it would be counter-productive for governors to act at variance with the President on matters of national security and associated policies.
“We, however, admonish state governments on their part to refrain from acts that are capable of jeopardising the ongoing efforts by President Tinubu to secure the nation. As Chief Security Officers in their respective states, it will be counter-productive for governors to act at variance with the President on matters of national security and associated policies,” he said.