The House of Representatives has excoriated the Federal Government for its subtle moves to bury the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Special Task Force report.
Consequently, it said President Goodluck Jonathan’s government lacked the political will to fight corruption, especially in the oil and gas industry. This position came in the wake of criticisms of the report by the Presidency.
Consequently, it said President Goodluck Jonathan’s government lacked the political will to fight corruption, especially in the oil and gas industry. This position came in the wake of criticisms of the report by the Presidency.
The Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr. Doyin Okupe, had on Thursday, disparaged it as “containing loopholes.”
The House, however, said it was not surprised by the way the Executive handled Ribadu’s report because probes conducted into the oil sector since 1999 had turned in damning reports, which the Presidency could not act on.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said there was “a deliberate attempt not to implement the Ribadu report.” Mohammed noted that the investigation was “calculated to fail from the beginning,” considering the controversies and intrigues, which surrounded the work of the Ribadu committee.
He added, “So, what we have seen is the lack of political will to prosecute. The House, for instance, conducted several probes in the past and made recommendations, but how have we fared? We did the Farouk Lawan probe, it was politicised; now there is Ribadu probe and the same drama is playing out.
“What this tells us is that there is no political will to prosecute those who have been indicted.”
The lawmaker stated that though the National Assembly had enormous constitutional powers to ask questions on the management of public resources and recommend penalties where necessary. He therefore assure Nigerians that the House would continue to perform its constitutional responsibility of exposing corruption.
