Kaduna-based civil society organization,Human Rights Monitor to expressed consternation over what it described as the desperate moves by indicted oil firms and top ranking government officials to create confusion in the House of Representatives, blur the issues in contention with the ultimate aim of unseating the leadership of Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who has displayed uncommon courage and bond with the Nigerian people.
Barrister Festus Okoye ,executive director,Human Rights Monitor in a statement today said what is “Even more revolting to Human Rights Monitor is the clandestine support for the oil mafia by agents of government who aided and abetted the oil companies in the clandestine and bizarre looting of the revenues of Nigeria.”
Furthermore,the group said the indicted individuals, firms, companies and top government officials have deployed their intimidating war – chest of Nigeria’s looted funds to divide the members of the House and ultimately set the stage for the scuttling of the planned debate of the Fuel Subsidy Probe Report.
“It is for this reason that Abuja, the seat of government is awash with massive slush funds unparalleled in the history of corrupt enrichment in Nigeria for the sole purpose of holding Nigeria down.”Okoye said in the statement.
Meanwhile the House of Representatives has adjourned till 11.00am on Wednesday when further deliberations on the Report of its Adhoc Committee on fuel subsidy will continue.The House began deliberations today inspite of pressures from interested parties which have been seeking to sabotage the well acclaimed Farouk Lawan Subsidy Report.
The Report uncovered a N1.07trillion subsidy fraud and it accused the NNPC ,PPPRA of fraud among others.Oil marketing firms were also indicted.But must of those indicted have been moving from pillar to post seeking cover up their tracks.
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESANTATIVES AND THE AXIS OF EVIL IN THE OIL INDUSTRY.
Human Rights Monitor has watched with consternation the desperate moves by indicted oil firms and top ranking government officials to create confusion in the House of Representatives, blur the issues in contention with the ultimate aim of unseating the leadership of Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who has displayed uncommon courage and bond with the Nigerian people.
The indicted individuals, firms, companies and top government officials have deployed their intimidating war – chest of Nigeria’s looted funds to divide the members of the House and ultimately set the stage for the scuttling of the planned debate of the Fuel Subsidy Probe Report.
It is for this reason that Abuja, the seat of government is awash with massive slush funds unparalleled in the history of corrupt enrichment in Nigeria for the sole purpose of holding Nigeria down.
Even more revolting to Human Rights Monitor is the clandestine support for the oil mafia by agents of government who aided and abetted the oil companies in the clandestine and bizarre looting of the revenues of Nigeria.
Human Rights Monitor is solidly behind the Hon. Tambuwal leadership, and indeed the entire House of Representatives in their bid to get to the root of the rot in the oil industry, and in particular the discredited fuel subsidy regime and set Nigeria on the path of greatness.
We hasten to point out that civil society groups and organizations made tactical and strategic errors and mistakes in the execution of the struggle against the removal of fuel subsidy and the same discredited oil mafia moved in and exploited the tactical and strategic mistakes and tragically changed the context and complexion of the struggle.
We also hasten to point out that the struggle against the removal of fuel subsidy is the first phase in the struggle to reclaim the sovereignty of the Nigerian people from the vicious grip of groups and individuals resourced with illicit oil money.
Civil society groups and organizations will therefore not accept any attempt, subtle, covert or overt to impeach, blackmail and or harass the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the leadership of the House of Representatives on account of having pitched tent with the Nigerian people and giving leadership and voice to the struggles of the Nigerian people.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives and the leadership of the House of Representatives have displayed uncommon courage and determination in the struggle for the future of Nigeria especially during the struggle against fuel subsidy.
The release of the report of the House Committee on the subsidy regime has justified the contention of civil society groups and organizations that the subsidy regime was a Pandora box closely guarded by those in and out of government and using phantom and nonexistent companies to swindle the Nigerian people.
We therefore warn those sponsoring useless advertisements and issuing threats against the Speaker of the House of Representatives that in the second phase of the struggle, civil society groups and organizations will not make the same tactical and strategic mistakes made during the first phase of the struggle and will not allow their ranks to be infiltrated.
Since the House of Representatives have helped in exposing the underbelly of the coalition of evil holding the Nigerian people down, the second phase of the struggle will be direct, targeted, phased, sustained and will lead to the complete overhaul and sanitization of the entire oil industry and the removal of the cancerous groups and organizations holding the Nigerian people down.
We shall, in collaboration with other civil society organizations, mobilize in support of the House of Representatives and the prosecution of the indicted oil companies and top government functionaries.
Rather than remain silent while officials in his government engage in endless schemes to undermine the House leadership and protect themselves from impending prosecution, President Jonathan should embrace the House leadership as partners in progress and use the Fuel Subsidy Probe Report to engrave his name in the sands of the anti – corruption struggle.
We must warn that the present state of insecurity in Nigeria threatens the security and values of the Nigerian people and we cannot afford to toy with institutions of democracy that can assist in stabilizing the country.
Barrister Festus Okoye
Executive Director
Human Rights Monitor
April 24, 2012
