POWER PROBE: BEFORE THEY RUBBISH IT
The ongoing House of Representatives investigation into the $16 billion
expenditure on power reforms between 1999 and 2007 without commensurate
results has generated divergent reactions from Nigerian people. Generally,
people were shocked at the colossal sum sunk into the power sector with a
worsening effect on generation, transmission and distribution of power
supply for industrial and domestic use. More shocking was the release of
million of dollars for work not done to unregistered (illegal) companies
under an administration that touted itself as an avant-garde of
anti-corruption, apostle of due process and die hard patriots out to
ameliorate the suffering of long suffering Nigerians.
But beyond the sickening revelation of what amounted to official stealing
and other sharp practices in this all important sector for human and
industrial development, there is the effect of the probe to give
Nigerians a perspective on why in spite of our God-given resources, we
seems perpetually incapable of providing for the basic needs of our
people. The insulting exposure of those in position of authority who
misused their positions for selfish gain is indeed a soothing balm to the
heat, inconveniences and even consequential deaths suffered by the people
as a result of epileptic power supply. In this view, while the probe
results is being awaited and sanctions expected for culprits in this
official malfeasance, the public know that even some hitherto thought
pious and of impeccable character, are to be charitable only slightly
better than petty thieves. And with or without sanctions, Nigerians can
rightly relate with them in proper perspectives in the public domain.
Of course, some are not impressed with all the sordid revelation of what
they always assume is second nature to most government officials. In the
usual Nigerian cynicism of seeing the “handwriting on the wall” and
concluding it could possibly be a fake, they see the whole exercise as all
sound and fury without possible action thereafter. For this set of
Nigerians, the probe’s only value is its real life ‘entertainment’ value
that soon fades into darkness after the show. In this pessimistic view,
they have a repertoire of precedents in our history to back their
positions of “more heat than light” according to writer.
One also note that political parties, civil society organisations and
individuals have latched on to the probe as anchor for call for a
comprehensive probe of the last administration or specific individuals
whose role in the whole depressing saga is less than salutary.
All these reactions are all well and good but there are others that are
either based on ignorance or portend attempt to rubbish the work of the
probe panel. In the first group are those who mistakenly assume that the
House of Representatives committee has prosecutors’ and judicial power to
sanction any indicted persons from their investigation and report. From
this assumption comes the conclusion that at the end of the day the House
will not do anything to the outcome of the investigative hearing as it
happened in the past. But this misconception would not arise if such
persons are appreciative of the role of the legislature in a democratic
system with three arms.
Constitutionally the legislature makes the law for the executive to
implement while the third arm, the Judiciary adjudicate/interprets the
laws. In this instance the House is constitutionally empowered to conduct
investigation into any matter it has competent to make law. The process
leading to the current investigative hearing started with a motion on the
floor of the House which sailed through mandating the Power and Steel
Committee to investigate and report back to the House their findings and
recommendations. Once this is done, the whole House will further debate
the report and pass a resolution on it which will make certain advisory
recommendations to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF)
for onward transmission for the Executive arm to take action. From this
point, the ball has left the court of the legislature and thereafter
Nigerian should hold the executive responsible for initiating further
actions. For the leadership of the House under Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the
House is going the full hog in this matter within the purview of their
constitutional obligations. One recall a precedent of similar probe of the“missing ship” in the custody of the Navy where the last administration
meted out sanctions to culprit in that episode based on the House’s
recommendation. And reassuringly, the Executive led by President Umaru
Yar’Adua has promised to act on the result of the probe through the
Attorney-General. Let us wait and see.
But the present concern is that a group is working assiduously to rubbish
the work of the acclaimed Hon. Ndudi Elumelu panel. It started with
threats, pressure and inducements that met a brick wall. At a point the
Speaker, Hon. Bankole was verbally assaulted and rebuked on the issues of
probe.
When all these attempts were successfully rebuffed and the probe gathers
steam, some of those with a finger in the $16 billion power pie resolved
to undermine the probe using various means. Sponsored write ups have
started appearing in the media questioning the integrity and alleged
fabulous wealth of the chairman of the committee, Hon. Elumelu.
Similarly, attempts have been made to discredit indicting testimonies,
particularly in relation to following due process in award of contracts
and payments. Due process or no due process, there is no denying the fact
that money was collected for job not done. Another front that is becoming
apparent is attempts to influence the writing of the report of the
committee towards certain predetermined conclusion that will down play the
culpability of indicted persons. This is equally coming out as sponsored
write ups suggesting certain conclusions and urging the nation to “move
forward” and avoid “throwing away the baby and the bath water”! What
nonsense in view of the quantum of money we are talking about. Some are
even suggesting that money collected for work not done should not be
recovered. As they say this is insult upon injury to the Nigerian people
for all they have suffered as a result of selfish and greedy malfeasance
of a few.
There are also indications that those against the outcome of the power
probe intend to lobby members of the House with huge cash war chest from
their loot to rubbish the report when it is presented at plenary for
adoption. The attempt here is to water down whatever recommendations that
will come out of the probe with a view to escaping with a slap on the
wrist.
However, their plots is bound to fail following the resolve of Hon.
Bankole led House to follow this as well as other investigations in the
pipeline to its constitutional logical conclusion. Indeed this oversight
function of the House of Representatives forms the fulcrum of what threw
up the leadership of Bankole and so far the Speaker has been true to the
mandate of the forces of integrity, transparency, good governance and due
process that threw up his leadership. Part of this was the approval to air
the power probe on a major television network with coverage extending to
the Diaspora. And the viewing public were appreciative of this gesture
that have help them to form their own opinion on the dark spell cast on
their lives by those responsible to brighten their lives. As it is we are
sure to see the light at the end of this contrived dark tunnel the probe
panel has delved into. But Nigerians, the civil society and human rights
groups should be ever vigilant to hold the various arms of government to
their constitutional mandates.
By Chief Kayode Odunaro
Special Adviser,
kayodunaro@hotmail.com