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Ethnic Youth Leaders’ Forum Condemns Dissolution of House Joint Committee on the Oil Sector
Nigerian youths under the aegis of Ethnic Youth Leaders’ Forum (EYLF) have condemned in strong terms the dissolution of the House of Representatives ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.
In a press statement signed by EYLF’s National Coordinator, Comrade Godwin Meliga, the Forum stated that the sudden, arbitrary and inexplicable dissolution of the House ad-hoc Joint Committee shortly after it commenced its assignment was a brazen attempt by the leadership of the House of Representatives to silence the committee’s courageous exposure of wanton corruption within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL); the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and by extension the nation’s oil and gas industry.
“Only recently, the media space was inundated with allegations that the investigations of the committee were ruffling feathers in the NNPCL, hence the oil regulatory body was making frantic efforts to financially influence the House leadership to achieve the disbandment of the committee. The House Deputy Spokesperson, Hon. Philip Agbese, also called on President Bola Tinubu to immediately dismiss the Group CEO of NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari; as well as the CEO of NMDPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, for allegedly stifling the nation’s economic growth due to the oil sector crisis. In our candid opinion, the timing of the committee’s dissolution tends to lend credence to these grievous allegations,” stated Comrade Meliga.
Expressing firm confidence in the Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie jointly chaired committee’s capacity and commitment to thoroughly investigate and proffer practicable solutions the niggling challenges in the nation’s oil and gas sector, the Forum demanded that the committee’s allegations of corruption in the NNPCL must be thoroughly investigated rather than swept under the carpet, adding that the arbitrary dissolution of the committee grossly undermines probity, transparency and accountability within the NNPCL and NMDPRA, as well as the fight against corruption in the country.
Consequently, the Forum further demanded the following:
- A clear and concise explanation by the Honourable Speaker, of the reasons behind the unilateral and arbitrary dissolution of the Joint Committee, in order to dispel mounting allegations of compromise against the leadership of the House in the public domain.
- The immediate and unconditional reinstatement of the Joint Committee, as well as a level playing ground to enable it continue and conclude its investigations into the rot in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
- Assurances of government’s protection for whistleblowers within and outside the NNPCL.
Recall that the House of Representatives ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee was inaugurated two weeks ago, with the mandate to conduct legislative forensic investigation into the nations’ oil and gas sector. Details of the committee’s mandate include investigating the importation of adulterated petroleum products, the non-availability of crude oil for domestic refineries, and other critical energy security issues. The committee was supposed to report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
However, in a knee-jerk reaction the House, through its spokesperson, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, yesterday announced the dissolution of the committee without giving reasons for its action, stating that it would be succeeded by a newly constituted ad-hoc committee with the same mandate.
“Nigeria’s future depends on our collective fight against corruption. The dissolution of the House of Reps ad-hoc Joint Downstream and Midstream Committee by the Honourable Speaker has the capacity to create escape routes for looters of our common patrimony, particularly in a season when Nigerians are protesting against hunger and bad governance in the country. We will not be silenced again by leaders who hold the mandate of the people,” stated Comrade Meliga.
News
Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12
Joel Ajayi
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.
In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.
Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.
She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.
“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.
Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.
“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.
Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.
“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.
“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.
Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.
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