National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
For the second time since the probe of the oil subsidy scandal started, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Tuesday called on President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that all those indicted by the House of Representatives fuel subsidy probe report face the full wrath of the law.
In a statement he personally signed, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, said: “I call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other security agencies charged with the responsibility of handling the report to do a thorough job and prosecute all those who are indicted by the report in accordance with the law.”
According to him, “The public hearing organised by the House of Representatives on fuel subsidy provided Nigerians the opportunity to express their feelings and to make meaningful contributions during the probe. This is commendable.”
The statement added further: “You are all aware that the report exposed monumental fraud and corruption in the oil sector. The National Assembly should be encouraged to carry out such investigations to assist in the fight against corruption.
“PDP is in full support of the position of President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, for a drastic action to be taken against fraudsters and any person discovered to be involved.”
The party had in an earlier statement in April this year, after the release of the report of the Subsidy said it was throwing its support to the recommendations of the House of Representatives committee which recommended that the former national chairman of the party, Dr. Ahmadu Ali, who as chairman and members of the Board of the Petroleum Products Price Regulation Agency (PPPRA) should be prosecuted. However, it called for fair hearing on all concerned in the oil scam.
Other recommendations adopted by the House include: “That the management and board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) should be completely overhauled and all those involved in infractions be further investigated and prosecuted by the relevant anti-corruption agencies.
“That all the payments which the PPPRA made to itself from the Petroleum Support Fund accounts in excess of the approved administrative charges which is due to it under the template should be recovered and paid back into the fund. The officials involved in this infraction should be further investigated and prosecuted by the relevant anti-corruption agencies,” the House said in its report.
PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metu, said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) identifies with the various probes by the National Assembly in exercise of its legislative oversight functions.”
According to the statement by PDP on the oil probe in the House of Representatives, “Specifically, the NWC welcomes the probe by the House of Representatives into the management of the petroleum subsidy. While the NWC awaits the consummation of all due processes in line with fair hearing to ensure that only the guilty suffers, the PDP will continue to encourage the National Assembly to take necessary measures that will help stamp out corruption.”
The statement said position of the party was, “in line with the resolve of the Dr. Bamanga Turkur-led NWC that the new leadership of our great party, PDP shall be in the fore front of the battle against corruption and in view of the principled stand and deep commitment of President Jonathan on the matter, the NWC hereby restates unflinching support for every step so far taken by government to stamp out corruption.”