Facts of the moments . What does Jonathan plan to do about all the allegations against the NNPC? Why was he so quick in axing Sanusi, while he continues to treat Diezani Alison-Madueke, the Minister of Petroleum, as a sacred cow? True, Jonathan recently ordered an investigation into the NNPC’s operations by the Accountant-General of the Federation, but whatever happened to the findings of the Ribadu panel, which Jonathan himself set up earlier, and which revealed monumental corruption within the corporation? Why not suspend Alison-Madueke, following that report, just as the FRC’s report was used as the basis for suspending Sanusi? It is this kind of executive duplicity that casts doubt in people’s mind on the motive behind Sanusi’s suspension. This is made worse by the irony in the allegations raised against Sanusi in Jonathan’s 7-page letter of suspension, particularly (1) non-compliance with the Public Procurement Act; (2) unauthorised expenditure on intervention projects across the country; and (3) financial infractions and acts of financial recklessness. Many observers chuckle at these allegations because they’ve also been raised at various times against the presidency, the President’s ministers, and, of course, the NNPC. Finally, Jonathan will have a hard time convincing cynics that Sanusi’s suspension is not one of a series of actions intended to mop up the political mess on the ground, preparatory to his re-election in 2015. The actions include the call for a national conference; the release of N200bn investment fund to public universities; fence mending within the Peoples Democratic Party; and the recent sacking of four ministers, including Stella Oduah, who have long been enmeshed in corruption allegations. The truth is that no one is prepared as yet to take these actions as a true fight against corruption (culled from Punch columnist) .
Posted on: Tue, 04 Mar 2014 05:41:22 +0000
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