By Onome Oghenetega
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, says President Muhammadu Buhari will try everyone connected with the controversial $16 billion investment in the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) including former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Oshiomhole said Nigerians deserved to know the truth behind the NIPP and anyone found culpable in the probe that will be initiated in Buhari’s second term would face the full wrath of the law no matter how highly placed such individual are in the country.
The APC chairman stated this on Thursday at the Warri Township Stadium, during the flag-off of the APC campaign/ mega rally for Delta state, saying that the mismanagement of the resources was why the country is in darkness.
He said, “Uduaghan, you will recall as governor of Delta State despite the fact that you were a PDP governor and I was in CAN governor, when PDP decided to sell BEDCO which covers Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti States, we agreed that if PDP do the privatization in a manner they wanted to do it, the economy of the South South will be destroyed
.
“We spoke loud at the National Economic Council. We told Jonathan don’t do it. We told PDP don’t deceive the people but they went ahead…Uduaghan and I held a press conference at my private residence in Benin. We warned that this Disco which is owned by a family will destroy the economy of our states.
“Today, are you not having power crisis in Delta State? Even in Edo State, the governor is fighting every day. They took $16 billion in the name of power supply. They took the money and put it in their pocket and Nigeria remains in the dark. They signed agreement of 20 years which is difficult to revive.
“But, Mr President, in your second term, I urge you with respect sir; you must fulfill the question which we have asked. After $16 billion, you will ask, where is the light? Mr. President, you have a duty to man and to God, to ensure that that question must be answered. It must be answered judiciously. It must be answered in the court of law and what people are entitled to know.”
On Atiku’s threat to privatised the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Oshiomhole warned the people of the South-South region to stand firm with President Buhari as the PDP presidential candidate would sell all the nation’s oil and gas reserve.
“Yesterday (Wednesday), I was watching the television, I saw PDP Presidential candidate and a former custom officer (Atiku), he was saying in the likely event that If Nigerians make the mistake of their life to vote for him (Atiku) as president, is telling Nigerians whether they like it or not even if he would die that he will sell oil reserves of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Edo states and that he would auction all oil properties of Nigeria whether they (Nigerians) like it or not.
“If somebody put you on notice that if you vote for him that he is going to sell your family, will you agree? Will you vote for him? I have worked with them before. When Atiku was the vice president, I was the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress. When he decided to sell the Nigeria Airways, there were a lot of contrary opinions but he (atiku) said I don’t care. I just wanted to sell Nigeria Airways.
“Today, Nigeria is battling without a national carrier. That is not all, Atiku ensure that the workers and pensioners of Nigerian Airways are not paid. Did he (Atiku) pay, no. Buhari has agreed to pay. Atiku has told us that he is going to sell everything, even your underwear, if you are not careful; he is going to sell it. He has done so before and he will do it again”, he added.
He also told Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and governorship candidate of the PDP that his days are numbered as Chief Great Ogboru would send him packing in forthcoming elections.
