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Cacophony As Defence …That Bribe Allegation Against Lawan
From the moment, the Right Honourable Farouk Lawan was named as chairman, Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives to unearth those behind the rot in the nation’s oil subsidy regime, through the Public Hearing of the assignment, up to the eventual submission of report, Nigerians expected nothing short of total success. And total success, the Lawan Committee produced. Or, so many thought.
So even when, a supposedly culpable oil giant’s company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited was deleted from the blacklist, by the Lawan Committee on the floor of the House, during the deliberations on Tuesday, April 24, 2012, not many saw any thing wrong with it. It remained same even when, the company’s chairman, Mr Femi Otedola later alleged that the Lawan-committee had demanded and received from him part of a $3million bribe.
Unfortunately, Lawan’s response to that serious allegation has unwittingly forced me to appreciate the linguistic value of some African dialects, and in particular, poetic value of the word-Cacophony.
Before the Europeans discovered parts of Africa and imposed on Nigeria the English Language virtually every ethnic nation-state had its own modes of communication, with a long list of words and the meanings. Such language forms may not be perfect and variously went as dialects, they were rich in all literary expressions, uniquely theirs.
The word Cacophony is one of such expressions which definition in African dialect is more apt when laced with a proverb than what the New English Dictionary (Geddes & Grosset) simply explains off as ‘an ugly sound, a discord’.
Ask an average elder of Wakirike Nationality, about what cacophony means, he probably will say, ‘Obiri bipi-belema Obori piri-oku’, meaning, “just like a conversation between a dog and a goat”. Such is the nature of the ugly sound, Nigerians have, for over a week now, been fed with by key actors in an alleged $3million bribe scandal.
Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Adhoc Committee on Oil Subsidy Probe, Hon. Farouk Lawan is one of flawless integrity, honesty and patriotism. In virtually every assignment he put his hand to do, he emerged a national hero, fearless, thorough and indeed incorruptible.
Little wonder, when his Adhoc Committee early last month submitted its report to the lower Chamber of the National Assembly, many Nigerians saw no other need for any anti-graft agency to act on it. As far as they were concerned, what was left, was for the Federal Government to implement, without question or delay, all the recommendations of the Lawan Committee. I belonged to that group and so did, nearly all members of the House of Representatives.
So popular, Lawan and indeed his brilliant report became one vital tool depended upon to correct the inherent contradictions and corruption within the downstream sector of the industry and indeed the oil subsidy regime.
Infact, many Nigerians started seeing in Lawan, not just the future of true Democracy, but indeed the pivot around which a corruption-free Nigeria will revolve. This is why Lawan is held in very high esteem as one of impeccable character,. His name alone justified the Speaker of the last dispensation, Hon. Patricia Etteh in belief that Lawan could never be part of any wrong doing.
But that pedigree is now being contested over allegations of bribe in course of his committee’s assignment. That Lawan had indeed demanded $3 million, from Femi Otedola, and from whom the respected lawmaker had already received $620,000.
At first, most Nigerians were united that Lawan and his Adhoc Committee might be victims of set-up or blackmail on account of their brilliant report which listed influential oil companies as guilty of short-changing Nigeria.
Infact, the moment he ‘opened his mouth’ to deny the allegation, Nigerians believed him without hearing. And for sometime, all seemed united that Lawan did not and could not have received a penny, in bribes, so when Lawan voiced it, the matter remained closed, many believed. Instead, they prayed that the lying Otedola be punished for attempting to tarnish the image of Nigeria’s future.
That remained so until Monday last week when Chairman, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd. Mr. Femi Otedola, largely believed to be one trying to bribe the adhoc committee, opened what now appears a pandora box. The man revealed how Lawan and the adhoc committee Secretary, Mr. Boniface Emenalo had collected $620,000 from him in a sting operation master minded by the security.
The amount according to Otedola was part payment for the $3 million, which he alleged, Lawan had demanded from him to exonerate Zenon Oil from the adhoc committee’s report. Amidst repeated denials by Lawan, and on his behalf, by notable Nigerians, it was learnt that the State Security Services had provided a video recording of the incident to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for assessment and necessary action.
Otedola chronicled how, at the outset of the committee’s probe, Lawan had approached him to get some insight into the workings of the downstream Oil and Gas of the industry, which he gladly obliged him, by ensuring that directors of both Zenon Oil and Forte Oil Plc appeared at the Subsidy Probe’s public hearing. On that occasion, Zenon’s Managing Director, Mr. Kanmi Kareen Olaru told the committee, “For the avoidance of doubt, Zenon never participated or benefited from the subsidy scheme or Petroleum Support Fund (PSF)”.
Even so, Otedola said, Lawan was persistent that $3m be paid otherwise, his companies would be listed among subsidy fund defaulters, because according to Otedola, Lawan insisted that all other companies ‘were playing ball’.
“I screamed at him, demanding to know why he was doing this to me. All he said was that other marketers were paying up to keep their names out of the report so I should do likewise,” Otedola said. According to him, it was at that stage that he involved the security agencies to catch Lawan and his committee with their hands in the mess of porridge, reported ThisDay of Monday, June 11, 2012.
On Saturday, April 21, before plenary on Tuesday, Otedola continued, Lawan went in person to his residence to collect $250,000 in cash and then on Monday night collected another $250,000 making $500,000.
And, “On Tuesday, at 9am, just before the House commenced sitting, Boniface (the Committee Secretary) came and collected another $120,000”, totalling $620,000 in three installments, as part of the $3 million demanded from him.
Then the bomb-shell. That it was with payment of the third installment, that Lawan and his committee at plenary Tuesday, publicly removed Zenon’s name from the list of companies that bought foreign exchange but did not import products.
To these allegations, Lawan who was insistent in denial of ever demanding or receiving any penny from any marketer, least of all Otedola, changed his statement. That the $620,000 was being kept as evidence to bribe his committee.
Now the questions are: If indeed Lawan kept the money for such purpose, why did he initially deny ever demanding or accepting bribe? Why did he not notify the leadership of the House between April 21 and June 11, this year? Why did he not report the attempt to bribe him, and enlist the support of the security services to help authenticate his new claim? In which security safe is the money kept?
Is it with the Registrar of the High Court or with Lawan himself?
No matter the many times he has re-shaped his denials, they have not been able to provide answers to these questions and that leaves me with one option, albeit with a heavy heart -Lawan cannot be believed this time.
Infact, the highly respected, adored and honourable Lawan’s disjointed defence matches the Okrika man’s view of Cacophony – a conversation between a dog and a goat, and that worries me. A great deal too; because I still believe in and wish for his innocence and vindication on the long run.
That is why I applaud the decision of the House of Representatives that his matter be assigned to the House’s Ethics and Privileges Committee, where I pray Nigeria’s hope of a corruption-free future, could have a soft landing.
My Agony is that some are battling to rope the person of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and for all the wrong reasons. Both Otedola and Lawan’s adhoc committee members should prove their innocence, with hard evidence and leave Aso Rock out of the scandal, this time.
But I have a worry. Should the adhoc committee’s report be implemented in the face of the scandal? How many other companies were cleared for silent contributions, we may never know unless the investigations go their full cycle. Any suggestion to the contrary may be preemptive in the face of the evidence in public view.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Faruk Lawan and Femi Otedola
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.