- Urges Yahaya Bello to Surrender to EFCC
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI), a policy think-tank, claims that the federal government is saving an average of N1 trillion monthly after removing fuel subsidies, which amounted to over N11 trillion.
IMPI Chairman, Niyi Akinsiju, made the claims during a press conference in Abuja on Monday, addressing the state of the nation. He also appealed to former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to surrender to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“Our findings indicate that the Tinubu administration saves an average of N1 trillion monthly from the withdrawal of petrol subsidies in June 2023,” Akinsiju said. “In contrast, the three previous PDP regimes recorded a monthly loss from petrol subsidies of N1 trillion over 16 years, totalling N192 trillion. It is therefore unsurprising that Nigeria ranks among nations with the worst record of infrastructural deficit globally.”
The group also described the controversy surrounding the ongoing construction of the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a distraction from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “lofty ideas.”
Regarding Yahaya Bello’s standoff with the EFCC, the group expressed concern over public officials undermining the rule of law and the anti-corruption crusade.
“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,” Akinsiju said. “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,” Akinsiju continued. “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.”
Commenting on the construction of the coastal highway, which some have labelled as a “highway to corruption,” IMPI stated: “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,” Akinsiju added.
While calling on governors to refrain from acts jeopardizing President Tinubu’s efforts to secure the nation, Akinsiju emphasized that as Chief Security Officers in their respective states, governors should avoid acting 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,” Akinsiju said. “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.”