Posted by From JAMES OJO, Abuja. on
Indications that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo may be called to account for his eight year presidency emerged yesterday with the resolution of the House of Representatives to comprehensively and thoroughly investigate how $10billion was allegedly wasted on power generation and distribution between 2000 and May 2007.
Indications that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo may be called to account for his eight year presidency emerged yesterday with the resolution of the House of Representatives to comprehensively and thoroughly investigate how $10billion was allegedly wasted on power generation and distribution between 2000 and May 2007.
President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua had stunned the nation in a rare display of candour when he accused Obasanjo of squandering over N1.22trillion on the power sector without any improvement. He was welcoming Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, one of the major players in the kitchen cabinet of the former president, when the disclosure was made.
The House, in a motion sponsored by the leader of opposition, Hon Mohammed Ali Ndume, but supported by 103 others, mainly from the majority party, the PDP, gave express permission to the Committee on Power and Steel to probe how billions voted for power reform went down the drain under Obasanjo's nose.
And giving insight into how the committee would carry out the assignment, chairman, Hon Ndudi Elumelu assured that anybody connected with wastage would be summoned to appear before the it.
Asked specifically if Chief Obasanjo would be invited to give evidence when the probe starts, he said: 'The committee is not afraid of anybody, no matter how highly placed".
'Anybody who took part in the distribution of the $10billion will be invited, irrespective of who the person is," he vowed.
Mover of the motion, Ndume, had solicited for the support of every member present, saying that the motion has nothing to do with either minority or majority, but Nigerians that are suffering from epileptic power supply everywhere.
'My colleagues, this motion, though moved by the Minority leader, is supported by 103 members across party lines, it shows that it is a motion that touches every Nigerian. The past administration made efforts to revamp the power sector, we were told by no other person than President Yar'Adua that $10billion was wasted in that sector. We should not be living in the dark, the promised state of emergency is yet to be declared, this is why we must know what happened to the money that we appropriated to the power sector," he said.
Ndume, who is also the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) leader expressed worry about the level of power generation that is worsening from 4500MW installed capacity to between 3000 to 3200 MW, adding that the huge amount spent by the last administration in the sector could not be justified as there was no visible improvement in generation, transmission and distribution.
Sule Garo, Samson Osagie, Oluwole Diya, Nkiruka Onyejiocha, Ahmed Sani Alkaleri, Eziuche Ubani, Binta Masi Garba, Mustapha Tsanyanwa, Dave Salako, Kayode Idowu, Solomon Agidiani, Nasir Mohammed, Unale Jarkarda Kiru, Bala Adamu Kuta, Samuel Tsokwa, Shan Isa Bello and Farouk Lawan supported the probe.
Supporting the motion also, Terngu Tsegba noted that agencies saddled with fighting corruption should beam their searchlight on the power sector, where he alleged that corruption reigns supreme.
'I am restating what the World Bank said about our power sector, that 80% of corruption in Nigeria occurs in the power sector. Why can't these agencies look into the area. The president confirmed that $10billion was wasted on this sector. Yet, there was noting to show for it. Can you imagine that this National Assembly is being powered by generator as we are sitting here debating power problems?" he lamented.
Those who opposed the motion could not found their voice when the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole put it to vote.
The committee was given 4 weeks to turn in its report to the plenary.