DEMAND FOR ANSWERS IN NPA MGT BOARD UNDER BALA USMAN
Restating the cravings of Nigerians on the urgent demand for inquiry, probes and accountability in the administration Board of Nigeria Port Authority under the supervision of Bala Usman who was recently fired, PDP Coalition is of the belief that not only does EFCC need to take in the expired MD but must ensure adequate prosecution and retrieval of the looted funds back to Federation account.
Recall that the immediate past Managing Director of NPA was alleged to have diverted public funds to the tune of N165bn and 15.18bn spent on Corporate Social Responsibility Projects (CSR) from the operational surplus of NPA while in office.
It is saddening that APC led government allows gross corruption and prebendalism to gain taproot in the affairs of this nation to the detriment of Nigerians that are languishing in hunger,poverty and frustration.It becomes a routine that government functionaries see their involvement in government as means of stealing from public purse to favour their ethnic people or close allies with no iota of resistance from the government in power. This truly analyzes how prebendal system of political authority hampers national development in Nigeria since it works for selfish and ethnic purposes.
As revealed by office of the Auditor General of the Federation that several figures of unremitted deductions to Federal Inland Revenue Services,this government has kept a deaf ear in speedily opening prosecution charges against the those involved.A respected Minister of the Federal Republic,Rt Hon Chibuike Amaechi since 2015 til 2021 had not given any attention to this wanton happenings in the agencies under his ministerial watch until recently when the heat of the looting impacts raised an eye brow.Is that how it was supposed to be in a government that cares for the citizens’ welfare? Does it show sincerity on the part of the Minister?
These funds suspected to have been looted and diverted if channeled to development projects is bound to provide 250 000 jobs for Nigerian youths ; It is capable of improving and stabilizing the electronic facilities of INEC whose powers have been tactically usurped by NCC and National Assembly in the pretext of supervisory and regulatory involvement for election result transmissions.Still the after effects of prebendal sentiment and political nepotism.
Federal Government is borrowing on daily basis from China ,thereby mortgaging Nigeria fiscal efficiency while huge chunks of money is being diverted by government officials under APC watch whose major promise to Nigerians was to fight and curb corruption. The slogan of Mr President in his inaugural speech in Eagle Square Abuja,29th May,2015 in quote ” I am for everybody and I am for nobody” has not been in good shape working realistically according to its proper contextual meaning.Today the reverse has been the case as corrupt public servants are free with golden welcome once they steal and join the party lines with flimsy and deceiving utterances of joining this and that party to contribute their own quotas in flourishing the administration of President Muhammed Buhari.
Failure to probe the NPA management board as it demands now shows recklessness,abuse of trust,high handedness and effronteries on the part of Nigeria government. It makes Nigerians to believe less in the Country which is supposed to be a stronghold of trust for her citizenry.
We therefore call for thorough investigation on this high profile looting.We demand accountability here and all hands should be on deck to unearth all the perpetrators involved in the shady deals and ensure disciplinary actions are taken as maintained in law .Nigeria must move forward as she owes her sovereignty to no Political Party or set of excess driven people rather her sovereignty and integrity lie in the hands of the people and enacted law of the land.
Chief Dr.Emeka Kalu,National Coordinator,
PDP Coalition.
