Letter To Mr President: My Many Letters Urging You To Sack Diezani
Mr. President, recall that long before the revelation of an
un-remitted $20billion to the Federation Account by the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the alleged use of N10billion
to fly private jets by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani
Alison-Madueke, I had advised you through several open letters in
national newspapers to give bite to your anti-corruption battle by
sacking and prosecuting those found wanting in your cabinet especially
the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
My contention then and even now is predicated on the several reports
detailing the financial recklessness pervading the operations of the
NNPC, which has Madam Minister as its board chairman. Among the reports
are the KPMG report on NNPC carried out in 2010, the 2012 Nuhu Ribadu
Report on NNPC, Aigboje Aig-Imhokhuede's report, Farouk Lawan's Report
on fuel subsidy and the Berne Declaration Report which indicted the NNPC
of massive corruption. Added to these is the alleged un-remitted
$20billion to the Federation account by the NNPC and the alleged use of
N10 billion to fly private jets by Madam Minister.
Besides, there have been international outcry about the menace of
corruption in our country which had further emboldened me to forge ahead
because the little efforts one is making to right the wrongs in
Nigeria have not failed to galvanize world attention to the malaise of
corruption in this country which has ultimately culminated in world
leaders recognition and outcry against the ravages of official
kleptocracy in Nigeria.
Recently, Mr. President, a former Secretary of State of the United
States, Hilary Clinton, made scathing remarks about how official sleaze
and corruption had retarded the economic growth of our country.
According to Hilary, "Nigeria has made bad choices, not hard choices.
They have squandered their oil wealth, they have allowed corruption to
fester and now they are losing control of parts of their territory
because they wouldn't make hard choices."
Also, the U.S. State Department in its year 2011 report on global
human rights, asserted that even though the three tiers of the Nigerian
government were ridden with “massive, widespread and pervasive
corruption,” the Federal Government failed to respond with "appropriate
punitive" measures.
My concern is that since the buck stops at the table of Madam
Minister, over the alleged missing $20billion and the use N10billion to
fly private jets, one individual's action or inaction should not be
allowed to tarnish the image of the entire citizenry both at home and in
Diaspora.
Mr. President, what is the need for a forensic audit when you have
publicly raised doubts about the possibility of such a humongous amount
being missing? Recall that while responding to a question on the
‘missing’ $20 billion' during last week's media chat, you said, “If
anyone steals $50 billion or $20 billion anywhere, America will know.
They will tell you where it is; it is their money.” Why not wait for the
verdict of the US instead of further wasting taxpayer's money on a
frivolous project already doomed to fail? Besides, how logical is it to
name a man accused of stealing a needle among the search party to find
it?
Therefore, permit me sir, to urge Nigerians to disregard the work and
ultimate report of the panel if Diezani is not suspended or sacked
before the commencement of their investigation. This has become
imperative because Diezani's case is not different from that of Sanusi
that was suspended over allegations of 'financial recklessness' nor that
of the former Minister of Aviation, Ms. Stella Oduah, who was sacked on
allegation of using N255million to purchase two bullet-proof cars. Why
should Sanusi and others not be allowed to enjoy the same 'presidential
protection' apparently being accorded Deizani? Moreover, I would want to
believe, with great suspicion, that Mr. President has had a change of
mind as to the missing money, hence, the forensic audit.
Again, Mr. President, since you told Nigerians that Sanusi was
suspended as chair of the CBN Board, based on ongoing investigation to
validate the report of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria, one
would want to believe that what is good for Sanusi is also good for
Diezani, since she also chairs the Board of the NNPC. Is it not
worrisome that many eminent world leaders have blamed the sadistic
occurrences in our country on the inability of our government to provide
social justice due largely to kleptomania?
I want to say without equivocation or fear of contradiction that with
the sum of $20billion now declared missing, our Armed Forces would have
been better equipped to forestall dastardly national emergencies like
the over 200 girls now held captive by terrorists.
The questions agitating the minds of Nigerians at this time include:
On whose recommendation was the audit firm appointed? Was the job
advertised as prescribed by the Public Procurement Act? How many audit
firms bided for the job? Was the present firm selected through
competitive bidding?
Who appointed the audit firm? Is it Diezani? Ngozi? Presidency?
As a concerned Nigerian, I need to know like many other Nigerians
equally need to know. Flowing from widespread suspicion surrounding the
credibility of the auditors, permit me to use this medium to enjoin the
National Assembly to probe the process that led to their selection to
carry out the forensic audit.
Even though there are susurrations in some quarters that the money
concerned was moved to a subsidiary of NNPC under an agreement, what I
am interested in as a taxpayer is the whereabouts of the money and if at
all it was moved to a subsidiary of NNPC, what is the legality of such
an action?
Moreover, in the light of worrisome information that emissaries have
been allegedly dispatched to 'arrange' the Senate probe report in order
to give Madam Minister a clean bill of health, kindly permit me to use
this opportunity to urge the House of Representatives' panel
investigating the matter not to relent until the truth is unearthed.
Sir, permit me to say that since my first open letter to you on this
matter last year, I have been inundated with several threat messages,
phone calls and unbearable intimidation and harassment, all designed to
shut me up. However, I will resolutely continue on this path which
promises a better future for Nigerians and a country free of corruption,
notwithstanding increasing threats to my life and safety.
Above all, the missing $20billion is a national embarrassment. It has
painted Nigerians in bad light both at home and in Diaspora. This is
why I will not fail to go to court to stop the investigation and ask the
court to order the sack and prosecution of Madam Minister, if Mr.
President refuses to replicate his action against Sanusi on this issue.
With best regards.
Signed:
Comrade Timi Frank
A
33-year-old fake prophet, who claimed to be the General Overseer of
Mountain of Liberation & Miracle Ministry, Liberation City, Dr Chris
Okafor, was busted ‘in-the-act’ by church security.
Apparently referring to the opposition
party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, President Goodluck Jonathan
yesterday said the party is a mix up of disastrous substances which is
bound for destruction.
