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The circumstance surrounding the
mismanagement of the PTDF is still a mystery to most of us. All efforts
made at uncovering the truth have not yielded the desired result.
Somehow, somewhere the truth is being covered by yet unknown persons.
But as the saying goes, truth shall triumph over falsehood, it’s just a
matter of time.
The shoddy job carried out by Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission and the kangaroo panel that roped Vice
President Atiku for corrupt charges was just to prevent him from
contesting the April election. This is very clear to those who have been
following the issue religiously without being biased in any way.
The Senate under the able leadership of
Senator Ken Nnamani saw the cover-up which prompted them into setting up
of an independent ad-hoc committee to investigate the matter.
Unfortunately, the ad-hoc committee headed by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba
did worse than both EFCC and the administrative panel put together. They
ended up adopting the EFCC report which they had earlier alienated
themselves from. I didn’t expect a better report from the ad-hoc
committee as I had earlier written that most of the members of that
committee we pro third term who had an axe to grind with Atiku Abubakar
for aborting their devilish quest. Thanks to Senator Olupitan who stood
shoulder high to uphold the truth.
President Obasanjo’s letter came in the
wake of a review committee set up by the Senate to review Senator
Ndoma’s report. President Obasanjo’s response was centered on PTDF
mandate. In effect, he went all out to explain that he never acted
outside the PTDF mandate. He did not, in any way, attempt to exonerate
himself from all the charges of corruption leveled against him. On the
African Institute of Science and Technology, he argued that the
institute did not require an Act of the National Assembly to exist. Is
it true that the President can expend public money on projects that do
not require approval? That is a question for the National Assembly to
answer.
On funds channeled for the
Computer-for-all-Nigerians-Initiative, the President also argued that it
is clearly within the mandate of PTDF. It will be remembered that these
computers were bought and disbursed to civil servants most of who were
on the threshold of retirement. Some of those who benefited from the
arrangement sold the computers for a profit. How civil servants in the
Ministry of Information, for instance, will aid the development in the
oil and gas sector remains a mystery to me.
The two hundred and fifty million naira
paid for the incorporation of the Galaxy Backbone firm is yet another
area in contention. The Presidential spokespersons, in defending the
President earlier said the N250million paid to Obasanjo’s lawyer was for
the incorporation of Galaxy and ‘other services’ rendered by the law
firm. In his defence Obasanjo has not made reference to ‘other
services.’ Is it not absurd to pay a whopping sum of N250million for
incorporating a company, when CAC actually got less than N30m? Someone
must have benefited form this outrageous payment. The argument that he
reduced the charge from N300m to N250m is not a valid defence.
On the alleged fabrication of rifle
codenamed OBJ-006 by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria,
President Obasanjo also tried relentlessly to justify his action. Is it
also within the mandate of PTDF to make small arms ammunition? Except if
the ammunitions are meant to wage war against the militants in the Niger
Delta, I am yet to see how this will aid in technological development in
the oil and gas sector.
After all is said and done, Mr. President
has not shed light on certain grey areas that are begging for attention.
For instance, he has not told the Senate the circumstances surrounding
the N700million he paid into Mofas account, an account he claimed
ignorance of earlier. He has equally not said anything about all the
money collected from Mofas account by his aide, Bodunde Adeyanju. Vice
President Atiku, on the other hand, explained the reason behind all the
payments made to Umar Pariya. The money requested by the PTDF, approved
and released on the same day which Atiku claimed was used to fund the
third term project of Obasanjo did not also get explanation from Mr.
President.
The purchase of vehicles for civil
servants with PTDF money is certainly against Obasanjo’s policy of
monetization. The over $20million contract awarded to aides and cronies
of Mr. President for the establishment of ICT centres, PTDF money paid
out for progress report on Obasanjo’s administration and photographs for
State House Library etc were not given attention by the President in his
defence. The President was also accused of raising the limit of the
amount of money the Executive Secretary of PTDF could approve without
recourse to FEC.
Mr. President’s silence on these issues
could only mean that he accepts guilt. The review committee would do
this country a lot of good if Obasanjo can be compelled to answer to
these allegations. In fact, he should be grilled just as Atiku willingly
offered himself to the previous committee in the full glare of the press
and the general public. If not, the final report of the committee may
not be different from that of Nuhu Ribadu, Bayo Ojo and Senator Ndoma.
Nuhu Shuaib
Goldjerry Estate
Zone 1, Wuse
Abuja
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