-Dismisses Allegations of Cover-Up
President Goodluck Jonathan has vowed to get to the root of those who have stolen from the Petroleum industry, insisting that there would be no cover up in the implementation of the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu committee’s reports when received on Friday.
In a statement issued by Dr. Doyin Okupe, Senior Special Assistant, Public Affairs, he said the accusation by the Save Nigeria Group, SNG and the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP that the Federal Government is trying to cover up the conclusion of the Ribadu’s report is baseless and unfounded.
“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan should be commended for his personal resolve to fight institutionalized corruption in Nigeria. President Jonathan ordered the probe of the Oil Industry for the period of ten years (2002 – 2011), which also covers the tenure of his administration. No president in our history has gone this far and this explains why the rots in our system have persisted for so long,” a statement signed by Dr. Okupe said.
Okupe stated that while it is unfair for the members of the SNG and the ANPP to have accused the Federal Government wrongly, “the president has neither seen nor received any copy of the Ribadu Committee Report.
Essentially, what appears to have been irregularly released prematurely to the Media is a draft copy, which still requires full accent of all members of the Committee and clarifications and due process from the originating Ministry before the official handing over to the Presidency.”
He said it is the determination of the President to fight corruption objectively that led to the appointment of credible members of the society, Mallam Ribadu, a well-known anti-corruption crusader and membersof opposition parties.
“President Jonathan approved the appointment of a well – known Corruption Crusader, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,who ran against him at the Presidential Poll on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. It is alsonoteworthy that the Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Supo Sasore was aformer Attorney General of Lagos State under an ACN Government.”
According to him, “President Jonathan’s unwavering and commendable determination to fight corruption is clearly demonstrated by his approval of the appointment of credible Nigerians, anti Corruption Crusaders and members of the opposition party in the committee.”
He noted that, “The efforts of President Jonathan has also helped in exposing the fraud in the Petroleum Subsidy regime dug up by Aig Imokhuede’s Committee. The indicted persons are currently being tried in various courts.”
The Presidential Aide maintained that, “For the purpose of clarity, President Jonathan’s resolve to fight against corruption and dig out all the rots in the system should not be misconstrued or politicized by the opposition as if it is his administration that is guilty of corruption, rather, he should be commended for taken the bold step that will ultimately sanitize the policy and the system.
He said his administration is determined to rid off the Petroleum sector of years of rots and institutionalized corruption.