Appointing two ministers won’t solve oil sector’s problems, say Balarabe, others

[TheNation]

   Alhaji Balarabe Musa  

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) yesterday said the demand for the appointment of two petroleum ministers can not solve the rot in the oil industry.

Also, the Executive Secretary of the Human Rights Monitor, Mr.Festus Okoye, said the system has nothing to do with the number of ministers managing the oil sector.

The respondents asked President Goodluck Jonathan to have the moral courage to implement the recommendations of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy rather than pre-occupying himself with appointment of more oil ministers.

Mr. Okoye said: “I think the system is completely rotten. It does not have anything to do with the number of ministers in charge of the oil sector.

“Having two ministers will create additional job for political jobbers.

“The oil industry has been a major problem. Everybody is in oil business and they have consistently made sure that the oil sector does not work.

“We need to overhaul the oil industry and run them as a commercial venture so that the system can be better. At present, the system or the procedure is not working at all.”

Speaking with newsmen, Balarabe said: “The recommendation calling for the appointment of two oil ministers is superficial. The issue is beyond having two ministers in charge of petroleum resources.

“What the government should do is to address this chaos and looting in the oil industry. Although I have not seen the full report, the recommendations from the Executive Summary have confirmed scandal and anarchy in the oil industry.

“I think the situation calls for a revolutionary change. It appears there is no leadership, no system. The President must act.

“What Nigerians should now insist on is punishment for those who have committed infractions. It is not a question of appointing two oil ministers.

“Some of these companies were given foreign exchange to import fuel but they did not. The government should have the courage to expose the directors of these oil companies and let the law take its course.

“Also, some companies were invited but they did not honour the invitation of the Ad Hoc Committee. Those who treated the committee with contempt should not be allowed to get away with it.

“The government should look beyond the superficial appointment of two oil ministers; it should implement the recommendations to restore sanity.”

On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Comrade Osita Okechukwu, said: “I think the issue is not about two ministers; it is about how to address the endemic corruption in the oil sector.

“The corruption should be tackled from the top with the immediate sack of all those at the top of these oil agencies.

“We demand the immediate prosecution of Senator Ahmadu Ali under whose watch such sleaze was perfected. Every other officer involved should be punished.”

A former governorship candidate in Delta State, Chief Collins Eselemo, said: “Nigerians expected the committee to come up with concrete solutions to improve the subsidy management, but they are talking of the appointment of two oil ministers. Does having two ministers go to solve the mess being piled up on the people of Niger Delta? Does appointing two people in a ministry address the problem of corruption?

“Having two ministers in the oil sector is like creating more bureaucracy for the industry. This development will slow down decision making process

“What is the essence of a bloated cabinet in an era that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan is trying to save cost?

“Didn’t we have two oil ministers under late President Umaru Yar’Adua? Yet, we could not move far on key issues like the Petroleum Industry Bill.

“As far as I am concerned, the Ad Hoc Committee is only begging the issue. So, for all what Nigerians suffered for on fuel subsidy, it is the appointment of a new minister that is the solution?”

 

 



TheNation