FAROUK GATE: FUEL SUBSIDY PALAVER June 12, 2012
Posted by seunfakze in CHANGE, POLITICS.Tags: bribery, corruption, Farouk Lawan, Fuel subsidy scam, Nigeria, Otedola
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Two days ago, I had written about LAWAN & THE CABAL, a piece asking LAWAN to come clean and clear his name given the bribery smear with Mr. Otedola. I had asked him to stand on the mountain tops and declare with blaring trumpets his stance. Earlier That day, Hon. Farouk Lawan had not only evaded but somehow avoided Omojuwa and I doing a live recording of what could have been an evidence-based report of his then ‘denying’ account. That same day, a rebuttal from his person had come out in public disclaiming the allegation from Femi Otedola. As we all know, the song now is different. Farouk indeed collected the money. I am saddened to have read new reports this morning saying he collected it to trap Otedola. Such foolery!
The situation room is clear. The message is loud. The details murky. The situation grim. One thing is certain: whoever is capable in crimes against Nigerians (while pretending to serve our interest) should and MUST face the due process of the law. Farouk Lawan included. Those indicted in the fuel subsidy probe report, who have indeed corroborated with Otedola, to bring huge setbacks to the probe should also prepare for war. The wrath of the people will be swift, very lethal and quite destructive in its move.
The Fuel Subsidy report remains our focus, Hon Lawan can face the music for all I care. This is a lesson to all young men, all well meaning Nigerians. Keep your distance from these evil men when you dine with them. PDP again has shown its resolve to bury this country in poverty and corruption no matter what it takes. Whatever happens in the forthcoming weeks will reveal the resolve of the people.
For those who care, the fuel subsidy report is the message. You cannot flaw it. Take Farouk Lawan away for his carelessness, let him face the consequences of his actions. Lt also those indicted in the report face the consequences of their looting. In the public court, there are no sacred cows.
We watch. We wait. We will act.
LAWAN & THE CABAL June 10, 2012
Posted by seunfakze in CHANGE, POLITICS.Tags: corruption, Farouk Lawan, Fuel subsidy scam, House of Rep, Nigeria
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POWER/FAME has an amazing way of exposing someone’s true character. This has played itself out in countless situations in our nation. The report of the fuel subsidy panel by the house of representative committee put many disturbing revelations before Nigerians. Indeed, Nigerians, home and abroad, became livid when the report of the Farouk Lawan-led committee came out; a report which showed how a third of our national revenue had been stolen by a cabal of vampires not up to a thousand. The unfortunate allegation against Farouk Lawan however, which came out two days ago, putting to question his integrity has only brought out the monstrous effect of corruption before Nigerians, bringing the character of politicians to question again.
Let me be clear on one fact: I salute the courage and effort of this committee, and I appreciate them for daring to bring many issues which could have been swept under to fore. I expected Hon. Farouk Lawan to be threatened, harassed, and embarrassed for unearthing the scam before us. No one would dare expose such evil and wickedness of callous corrupt Nigerians without damning consequences. For once, Farouk and his committee enlivened our hope that men of character can still stand and be counted in Nigeria. This previous assertion is, however, being put to test.
The allegation before Farouk is two ways. One, I expected it to happen, as obviously, any attention to soil his reputation will cast aspersions to the integrity of the report and ultimately almost
Ad to the dest of the report itself. This attempt would absolutely fault the report and inevitably bring an end to whatever probe or inquiry is being sort by the judiciary or anti-corrupt agencies.
Second., as much as i do not want to doubt the integrity of Hon. Lawan (as i know how hard it is to bring out such report without reprisals), I would have expected to come out and dissociate himself in clear and unmistakeable terms such allegation and DARE them to bring forth any evidence as they may seem suitable in the allegation. This is the path Malam Nasir Elrufai had towed in past and what endears a lot of young to him. How do we measure the integrity of persons like Hon. Lawan if he cannot refute the allegations before him?
We had an avenue to clear the air on this issue yesterday but our efforts to do this proved abortive. Something is definitely wrong somewhere. I give him the measure of doubt that he deserves given the situation but I dare Hon. Lawan to come out and prove his detractors wrong, publicly and evidence-based. This is a National issue.
Ethics and principles have long been a down-trodden issue in Nigerian government and politics. Many young Nigerians had their meter of hope in honest men improved when Hon. Lawan came out, the last we need is to have such hope trampled by this allegation.
We need honest men in Public offices who would go to lengths, evidence-based, to admit their honesty and disprove any waging tongue alleging corrupt practices when necessary. Should Lawan fail to give evidence-based denial and dare his detractors, we may be in the tussle for the survival of the report probe for a while.
Our refusal to ACT decisively as clusters of citizens is sending out the wrong signal to the authorities. They assume, they think the fuel subsidy “noise” is another issue we have forgotten given the National Distraction songs played to our hearings.
We have been robbed. Our resources have been depleted. We cannot keep up being passive onlookers. We have a duty to demanding our leaders do the right thing.
TAMBUWAL’s SPEECH April 25, 2012
Posted by seunfakze in CHANGE, POLITICS.Tags: Fuel subsidy scam, Nigeria
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Find below the opening speech by the House of Representatives’ speaker on the first hearing of the House on the report by Farouk Lawan led committee on the fuel subsidy.
“The probe of the oil Sector has raised so much dust from certain segments of the polity such that it became clear that the intention was to frustrate it. For those who regard the oil sector as a secret society or sacred cow, I wish to state without equivocation that it is not. All public agencies in the oil sector are the creation of Acts of the National Assembly and this Honourable House has no powers to legislate for the creation of secret societies. Similarly all private sector corporate bodies operating in the sector are the creation of the Corporate Affairs Commission and that Commission also is not vested with any powers to incorporate secret societies. Let it therefore be known that in our drive to sanitize the polity, there are no sacred cows and we do not intend to discover any.”
“However, that is only one part of the job. We now have the more crucial duty of considering the report and recommendations of the committee. Usually in a matter such as this, one is accustomed to hearing differing opinions presented passionately. Or passions presented as opinions.”
“But we must never forget who we are and where we are, because Nigerians are watching us very closely and history will judge what we do here today. I therefore urge each and everyone of you to look at this report dispassionately.
“Be fair in your comments and set aside all primordial sentiments so that we can do justice to this important document.”
“Let me reiterate the fact that we are discharging a Constitutional assignment here and it is therefore incumbent upon us to do our duty without fear or favour. Let me also remind you that we are fighting against entrenched interests whose infectious greed has decimated our people. Therefore, be mindful that they will fight back, and they do fight dirty.”
“I have heard all kinds of insinuations, including the one about anti-graft agencies waiting for a ‘harmonised version’ of this report before taking any action. Let me quickly say here that this is at best an excuse that can not stand after all the same agencies accept and investigate petitions from individuals, how much more resolutions of this House. There will be no such document so they should just go ahead and do their job and where they find any person or body culpable, they should proceed in accordance with the law.
“Our only interest here is to mitigate the suffering of Nigerians by showing how the subsidy regime has been hijacked for the benefit of a few. At the end of our deliberations we hope that the executive arm will act upon the resolutions of this House and bring more transparency to bear on the system.”
“Together we can do all things constitutionally required of us but not without sacrificing our personal comforts, personal aspiration and even personal opportunities that do not benefit the public good. For as many are prepared and determined to make these personal sacrifice and to stand on the side of the ordinary Nigerians whose mandate we hold, I say let’s march on dear colleagues”
FINDING OUR VOICE April 25, 2012
Posted by seunfakze in CHANGE, POLITICS.Tags: Fuel subsidy scam, house of Representatives, Minister of petroleum, Nigeria, NNPC
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I think of the next 12years at least. What would Nigeria look like if we fail to act? The #occupynigeria protest that came alive the first two weeks in January has brought up a lot of secrets in the Nigerian system; most obvious the uncovering by Farouk Lawan led committee of a Fuel Subsidy scam in which a humongous theft (total N1.06trillion) allegedly aided by key players in President Jonathan’s administration.
Just yesterday, Japheth Omojuwa sadly found a set of paid Nigerians protesting against the report submitted by the committee which indicted the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Maduekwe in the fuel subsidy scam. The report, in itself an eye-opener into how our leaders seriously plunder the system, is a shocking but awakening signal to the apathy of the
Nigerian masses. In improved economies, stealing N1.06trn out of a country’s budget is a grievous crime.
Moreso, a lot of this indicted in this scam would have honorably resigned in an attempt to preserve the dignity of their name or what’s left of it. Not so in Nigeria. The show of shameless brandishing of a political will, strengthened by the support of a quiet presidency has weakened the resolve of the citizenry. Nigerians are poor, not only because of visionless, clueless and inept leaders, but more because of the avarice of vampire leaders sucking the very life out of the system: stealing with reckless abandon,
What do we do? Sit and watch as usual or in the light if unfolding events, prepare for the Real and first citizen motivated, well-structured and strategically thought-out #occupynigeria?
First, there is an Information gap we have to bridge. As observed in the January protests, the information deficit on the streets needs to be strengthened. If only the people in Port harcourt who demonstrated yesterday really knew that those they call “their own” were part of those who caused them immense pain and untold hardship, would they do the same?
You have an opportunity, to use whatever tool you have at your disposal: word of mouth, articles, explanation, etc to inform the men on the streets. The street is where the real power lies, the artisans, the apprentices, the market women; and all who bear the direct burden of the deliberate wickedness of our leaders. People need to know. People need to be educated about proper acts of Good governance so they can act based on informed standpoints and not sentimental/bias positions.
Do you seek to find your Voice? Looking at the troubling issues, would you sit down and act unconcerned? Before our eyes, the government through it’s cabal, is short changing the future of our generation and posterity. In 12 years time, who would these street children have grown to be if they are trained and brought up by the streets? Would my daughter be safe in our poor society if I fail to do something? Will our females be able to walk on the streets without fear of molestation/assaults from people who have grown to be outlaws based on the disparity in the system?
Please reflect for a moment: WHAT WOULD NIGERIA BE IN 4 YEARS IF WE CHOSE PASSIVITY, IF WE FAIL TO TAKE A STAND? What of the future and posterity? What if our leaders had acted right 20 years ago? How long will we continue to live in a society without justice, with decadence, with disparate inequalities, impoverished citizenry, with insecurity, with the direct and shameless looting of our resources by a few? How long will we sit and watch people die every day, in hardship?
A country of 160million people is held ransom by people under 1000, a fourth of our budget (for 160million) stolen by people not up to 1000! We live in a country so rich, yet so poor, where the people live in the manacles of slavery and unbelievable hardship. “How many people have a job that pays about N100,000 a month?” Not up to 5%! Why are children not in schools? Whay are the schools not working? Where are the funds going to? Why are schools under-funded? Why is their so much waste in the budget? The resources that should have gone to funding many sectors has been stolen by the very “untouchables” of the Jonathan administration!
Why are the people impoverished? Because their leaders ensure they are. Will we keep watching while paid miscreants protest and we do nothing? Why are you sitting on the fence? Why are you not concerned? This is present day Nigeria: enslaved by men of our own color, tribe, religion, blood! Better put, people of the same skin, same tribe enslaved by the same people in the country. Nigerians leaders in general, act in oppressing and suppressing the citizenry without cause.
Second, We need to stand, and speak, and act for what is right; with integrity, without compromise, without seeking ego gratification, without seeking recognition! You can never suppress justice for too long. We need to ask questions. The first protest in January #Occupynigeria set that tone, and we must never relent in sustaining it. This next move will be massive, will be calculative, will be strategic, will be daunting, but it’s a must unless the Jonathan Administration do the will of the people. We have found our voice in #occupynigeria, We must not lose that voice.
I am @seunfakze
FUEL SUBSIDY OUTCOME: TERMINATION OF ACCOUNTANTS/AUDITORS April 21, 2012
Posted by seunfakze in CHANGE, POLITICS.Tags: Fuel subsidy scam, Nigeria, Okonjo Iweala
2 comments
FEDERAL MINISTRY OF FINANCE
News release. April 19, 2012
SUBSIDY PAYMENTS: FINANCE MINISTRY TERMINATES SERVICES OF ACCOUNTANTS AND AUDITORS
Concerned about the management of the subsidy regime, the Federal Ministry of Finance has for the last two months been reviewing aspects of the implementation of the subsidy regime related to its functions. The review has produced a lot of useful details on what was wrong with the system and what needs to be done to ensure improvement going forward.
The review process kicked off in February when the ministry and relevant government agencies held a meeting with bankers and marketers at the instance of President Goodluck Jonathan. This was followed by a subsequent session with the accounting and auditing firms to re-evaluate their work.
Based on the review, the Ministry has taken the following steps:
• The services of the audit and accounting firms responsible for certifying the documents and claims of marketers before payment have been terminated. The companies are Akintola Williams and Co and Adekanola and Co.
• The Ministry has established a committee made up of credible and experienced persons from the private and public sector with strong technical component under the chairmanship of Mr. Aigboje Imoukuede to examine the claims of payment arrears for 2011 currently being made by marketers. This is to ensure that only genuine claims are honoured.
• The ministry is also finalising a new and more effective system to replace the current arrangement and, in this regard, a second committee has been set up to propose a good way to forward.
Based on other outcomes of the review, the ministry will take further actions as necessary.
In a related development, the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has put on hold further depletion of the Excess Crude Account (ECA).
Paul C Nwabuikwu
Senior Special Assistant to the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance
