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Missing $44m: Coalition Slams Buhari’s Corruption Fight …President Can’t Fight Corruption -PDP
The coalition of civil society groups under the aegis of Northern Youths Coalition for Justice and National Orientation has slammed president Muhammadu Buhari and his anti-corruption war, saying his role in the sack of Acting Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ambassodor Mohammed Dauda was questionable.
The group, said the dismissal of Dauda following mere allegations without thorough investigation was grossly unjust.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna through its convener, Comrade Abdullahi Rabiu, chairman of the group accused the presidency of being responsible for the entire saga, which led to the illegal dismissal of the most senior Director of the NIA.
Rabiu wondered why Buhari, an avowed anti-corruption fighter would allow the controversial $44m NIA funds recovered from Amb Oke whose appointment was terminated to finally end up in the custody of those individuals hell bent on looting it.
The group also lambasted the presidency for not taking the allegation made by the embattled director general against certain government officials seriously in national interest rather than resorting to dismissing the director.
He said, ‘It is on record that Amb Dauda fought corruption at NIA gallantly and rejected all enticement and reward for confirmation as substantive Director General by disgruntled elements who wanted to plunder the $44M NIA funds in his custody if he had succumbed and cooperated.
“Instead of being rewarded and honoured, he was framed up by the same people and dismissed from work.This the greatest injustice that is despicable and unimaginable, the coalition said.
“It is also the height of injustice and oppression which symbolizes dictatorship and tyranny that is unacceptable in a democracy.”
While commenting on the appointment of a substantive director general for the agency, the coalition also observed that due process of law and agency guidelines were deliberately ignored to pave the way for the appointment of Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, the President’s kinsman, who was unceremoniously asked to retire from service five years ago following his failure to pass compulsory promotion exams to the rank of deputy director on three consecutive occasions.
It also faulted his appointment because the Kingibe committee set up to restructure the NIA which he served as secretary recommended that only the most senior Director would be appointed as Director General of the agency. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar the coalition said retired as an assistant director five years ago after failing promotion examination on three occasions.
“The appointment is therefore practically short of requirements and grossly shrouded in illegality,” it maintained.
The coalition further stated that the administration’s purported fight against corruption is now being labeled as a mockery on the sensibilities of Nigerians due to its selectiveness and insincerity.
Dauda last month appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety over $44 million missing from the NIA.
President Muhammadu Buhari had appointed Dr Abubakar Rufa’i as new NIA boss.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Hamza Akuyam, Bauchi state People’s Democratic Party Chairman has said thatPresident Muhammadu Buhari is unfit to fight corruption in the civil service.
Akuyam disclosed this to newsmen in an interview in Bauchi yesterday, saying, APC administration is a product of corruption.
He added that the opposition was vindicated with the sack of former secretary to the federal government, Mr David Babachir Lawal who was linked to alleged contract scam.
Similar, corruption allegations, Akuyam stress, culminated to the sack of former NIA boss, Mr Ayodele Oke apart from those Buhari deliberately spared.
“ Under Buhari, there is no evidence that APC will erode corruption in the civil service since the scourge started in presidency with the sack of ex-SGF and NIA boss which I am sure received daily directive from the Presiden,t” Akuyam fumed
The PDP chairman maintained that under APC administration, workers work under repulsive environment with low moral for commitment.
According to Akuyam, APC should account for the money it claimed to have borrowed even More than PDP administration in less than three years in government.
Consequently, the PDP boss vowed that Nigerians will not spare the ruling party ahead of 2019 elections, saying poverty has eaten so deeply among workers.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.