POWER PROBE: Where is the Report?
One of the major cardinal points of the Yar’Adua’s 7-Point Agenda is
the Energy sector. The electricity situation in Nigeria has been
identified to produce far below the desired capacity to turn the rusty
wheels of our industrial machines.
Nigerian citizens are therefore compelled to cope with partial darkness
and getting used to alternative power supply of stand-by generators and
power plants as we await the magic behind the somewhat declaration in the
power sector which President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had promised will
improve electricity supply; catalyze the industrial sector and robust the
economy which will in-turn ameliorate the long sufferings of the people.
The use of alternative sources of electricity supply has made the final
consumer to suffer the escalating prices of finished goods which have been
heaped at the threshold of the cost of production. Yet, electricity bills
are dished out at will to hapless Nigerians, and any bloody civilian who
felt short-charged and dares to raise eyebrows faces the threat of the
monopolistic powers of the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN).
Worst still, the prices of fuel and diesel which powers the alternative
sources has always received the blessings of government’s indiscriminate
hike, thus leaving the ordinary citizens at the mercy of impoverishment
and dwindling economy.
We don’t need to be reminded that the private sector, like the ordinary
citizens depends on the steady flow of these petroleum products and at
affordable rates too to keep the economy from stagnation. Yet, the
Yar’Adua’s government seemed desperate to further escalate the prices
by January 2009, perhaps to better their lots.
It would be recalled that billions of naira is said to have been wasted by
former President Olusegun Obasanjo in the past 8-years of his failed
administration. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji
Bankole confirmed to Nigerians that a staggering sum of N16b went the
drain without any meaningful ray of light to show for it.
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Power and Steel under the
chairmanship of Hon. Ndudi Elumelu which was mandated to unravel the
mystery behind the persistent darkness despite the billions of naira
committed to the power sector have since concluded public sitting and
submitted their final report.
During the investigations which was at public glare, and after the
Committee had toured the various power plant sites and closed public
sitting to garnish their findings and present a formal report before the
House – a scandal in which each member of the panel was said to have
received about N100 million Naira in one of the on-the-site inspection at
Port Harcourt broke out. Since then, the release of the power probe report
for public consumption has suffered setbacks.
It is strongly believed that the fabricators of these blackmails are most
likely those behind the darkness project. However, while Nigerians are
still expecting the report of the Hon. Ndudi Elumelu probe panel which
seemed to have indicted some “sacred cows”, the report is still being
held hostage by the leadership of the House of Representative, perhaps for
possible editing to suit their interests.
It would be recalled that the power probe report has been subjected to the
outcome of the Committee of Ethnic and Privileges which has since cleared
the air that there was no evidence whatsoever to substantiate the claims.
Yet, Nigerians are still anxiously waiting for the report in the absence
of further blackmails.
The Action Congress (AC) has consistently accused the leadership of the
ruling PDP in the House of using Speaker Dimeji Bankole to frustrate the
probe and shield some personalities. Senator Liyel Imoke who is believed
to have been fingered in the Ndudi Elumelu’s report has been identified
as one of the beneficiaries of such ploys.
It is being largely speculated that the Speaker of the House of
Representatives had to deliberately delay the presentation of the report
of the probe panel, according to the party, the non release of the report
was to enable Senator Imoke obtain INEC’s endorsement in the re-run of
the Cross River gubernatorial election which worked out well for them.
This was also buttressed in a strongly worded statement issued by the All
Nigerians Peoples Party (ANPP) that INEC under Professor Maurice Iwu
allegedly participated in the contrived polls to ensure that Senator Imoke
return as Governor of Cross River by every means possible. Most discerning
minds believes that INEC has remained a biased umpire and incompetent of
conducting any credible elections on which true democracy can stand in
Nigeria.
Whereas the Chairman of the panel, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu while addressing the
press has said that the committee was aware of the strong concern of
Nigerians for early publication of the final report. He said “I am
pleased to inform you that the Committee has since concluded its
investigation and written the final report.” “The Committee expects
that upon presentation of the report, it will be subjected to the light of
critical public analysis and criticism,” he added. But the report is
still gathering dust at the House of Representatives.
I dare say that when all these ploys of blackmail and setbacks eventually
fail, I just hoped that the masterminds of the blackmail would be made
public. Interestingly too, if the power probe panel report can be
subjected to such critical suspension on the mere allegation of perceived
bribery and corruption, I am only wondering what extent of critical
suspension will be meted against those spearheaded the false allegation
and those which the report will eventually indict.
Recalling the public sitting, it is mind-boggling that Chief Olusegun
Obasanjo, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could
deceitfully commission non-existent projects and deliberately plunge the
entire country into partial darkness, whereas billions of naira has been
compromised.
And to facilitate the evils of the corruption in the power sector, the Due
Process which bothers on transparency was set aside in the form of a
waiver by that same aging prisoner of a president and the recklessness and
fraudulent intents knew no bound leaving the nation to mere empty hopes.
Thus, it became frightening that inflated contracts were paid up-front,
even outside the terms of binding agreements, and even when such projects
lacked the necessary merits.
In that jamboree, payments were indiscriminately made and in full
installations without anything to show for it, while OBJ hold sway.
All these transpired under the watchful eyes of Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu and the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was busy chasing political
shadows. Little wonders it is still claiming there is no evidence to link
OBJ with any financial crimes let alone the power sector.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission need to sit up to ensure
adequate investigations, instead of waiting and relying on reports of
others committees or government agencies before it can swing into action.
If anything still seem confusing to the EFCC, one thing is very sure -
that former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government released billions
of Naira into the power sector purportedly to guarantee steady power
supply which never saw the light of the day.
The EFCC need to help Nigerians to investigate how much money actually
sank into these white elephant projects, and who are the beneficiaries
becuase it a constitutional requirement that the money need to be
accounted for in the renewed democratic spirit of transparently,
accountability and rule of law.
Until the report is released to the Nigerian public, we shall continue to
ask Mr. Speaker Dimeji Bankole of the House of Representatives why the
power probe report is still being allowed to gathering dust under his
democratic watch. More so, as the House has assured that its probe report
would expose ALL those behind the rot in the energy sector.
Edoreh F. Edoreh
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