Knocks, Knocks As Buhari Rules Out Fraud In $25b Nnpc-gate

The furore caused by the $25billion alleged oil and gas contract scam in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), treated as false in official quarters is still attracting condemnations against the APC led Federal Government.

This follows President Mohammadu Buhari's veto and issuance of a no-contract fraud statement in the NNPC and its sector, which he is senior minister. The statement has been viewed as setting NNPC's Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr. Mainkati Baru and others free from probe, instead of showcasing a no-nonse stance against corruption.

The president's explanation is that, no contract was awarded by the NNPC, let alone spending of such staggering sum of money.

The presidential clean bill of health to the handlers of the NPPC's corporate governance and its joint venture partners, has been greeted with sharp criticisms, by critics who in the first place feel that the presidential explanation came a bit late and euphemising the matter.

The issue had caused public outrage since Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachwukwu, blew the insider's whistle, an act promoted by the government but seem unpalatable in this case. Kachukwu's grouse was that he was sidelined in salient corporate decisions on the alleged contracts, besides being blocked from seeing President Buhari to report.

The most virile criticisms were from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which felt the so-called anti-corruption government and its Czar was in for the harakiri and must be dealt with now or never.

Indeed the PDP's upper kick against the APC led Federal Government besides those of its vocal members like Ex-Aviation Minister, Femi Fani Kayode and Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fasose opened a deluge of outcry against the alleged expose.

A statement by the National Secretariat of the PDP in Abuja, by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, made available to our correspondent, feasted with a slant that the alleged $25bilion sleaze was to siphon public funds for the re-election bid of the APC.

The PDP's press statement condemned the alleged expose as huge, hence called for urgent and thorough probe by the government. Many persons and groups who also felt that the allegation if true, involved a humongous sum of money, thus the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission should quickly mobilise for work as done against opposition parties' members, but such action was not to come.

The saga created a cacophony of spirited reactions from government officials, making the whole issue even hazier. The GMD of the NNPC, Mr. Baru and the board of the corporation asserted right over awarding contracts at instance of President Buhari at hospital in London. But this explanation which critics quickly commented could invalidate the contracts if any, was quickly swallowed by the NNPC.

Adding to the confusion was Vice President Yomi Osinbajo's statement via his media aide, Mr. Lalu Akande, that the VP approved the alleged contracts. Hours later the VP told journalists in Rivers State that he approved requests to take joint venture loans, not contracts of $25bilion.

Even Kachukwu at last mended fences with Baru and slanted his earlier allegation as not been about contracts but about need to smoothen communication and governance.

Despite the final verdict from President Bulgari, popular critics like former education Minister, Dr. Oby Ozekwesili and Dr. Olisa Agbakogba and Charles Oputa have continued to cry against government's delay in probing the matter.

Agbakogba (SAN) has requested an Abuja High Court to, on constitutional ground, invalidate President Buhari's position as senior petroleum minister. Others have called on him to resign as Minister or declare the position vacant. The president's doubling as Minister in that ministry is believed to be one cause of current problems there.

Thus, moves seem to be heightening towards the position against the president serving simultaneously as Minister. This development is being mooted even in the National Assembly, which has also summoned Mr. Baru to explain alleged oil minning license sales.

A Senator repressing Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Senator Foster Ogola, in a chat with correspondents, stressed this position, saying the president actually not ought be Minister and at the same time a president.

Senator Ogola reminicised with nostalgia that the position of senior petroleum minister used to and ought to be for the oil producing Niger Delta, but the reverse is some times the case.

Ogola, however said that despite marginalisation, the region should not join others gunning for violent solution, instead agree to dialogue for fundamental restructuring of country's system of governance.

He identified the cause of the NNPC controversy as personality conflict between Mr. Baru and Dr. Kachwuku, a matter, he hoped could be resolved maturely.

Despite, the permutations of no wrong-doing, Charles Oputa and his Our Mumu Don Do group, has commenced a sit out protest in Abuja again, calling on President Buhari to act on alleged alleged corruption cases under his watch else resign honourably as president.

As the drama of defenses and public outcry plays out, more things might be expected, and only time shall tell in the alleged $2billion NNPC-gate seen as bigger than Dasuki-gate. The anti-corruprion war is no other time under test than now.