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The oil sector probe
By Sun News Publishing
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
The news that the House of Representatives is set to probe
the activities in the oil sector during the last administration
is heart-warming. The House, we are told, has put everything
in motion to look into how the sector was administered by
the Olusegun Obasanjo government. Already, a 26-man committee
that will undertake this task has been set up. It is important
really that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Dimeji Bankole,
was quick to remind the committee of not only the enormity
of its task, but also the sensitive nature of it.
Indeed, this probe will obviously not be like the ones recently
undertaken or those still on-going. This one is different.
The oil sector is such a vast and complex one, which will
require time, good judgment, fairness and thoroughness. Nigeria
will expect the same dedication, sincerity and steadfastness
with which the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) is
being handled.
There are some worries though about the growing spate of probes.
Some believe that the rate at which the federal legislators
are going, they may be distracted from their primary function
of making laws for the country. Again, some are worried that
these lawmakers may end up having so much on their hands that
they may end up not achieving the desired result, if any result
at all. Legitimate as these fears and worries are, we believe
that the legislators are well within their capabilities to
carry out such important national assignment to expected end.
We also believe that this assignment is as important as making
laws for the country, because the issues involved are quite
fundamental.
For those eight years under probe, the country’s oil
was managed in the most arcane manner. Nigerians did not know
how much of the country’s oil was produced, how much
of it was exported and how much, in monetary terms, was realized.
The country was only working blindly with what official reports
said and even at that, the reports varied in figures and in
terms. There were also hues and cries about the manner oil
blocs were being allotted.
There was manifest disdain for equity, fairness and transparency
in this regard. It is believed that oil blocs in those eight
years were used to nourish relationships, settle political
scores, buy off political enemies, win favours and for the
attainment of other unwholesome ends.
Recently, the nation was told of how some governors in the
last administration were allotted oil blocs so they could
support the third term aspiration of the then president. Crude
oil lifting was also awarded in the same manner and for the
same purpose. It is also instructive to realize that for that
period, Obasanjo, as the president, was the minister in charge
of that sector. He vehemently rebuffed every entreaty and
advice to appoint a substantive minister. The best he did
was to appoint advisers at various times.
It is comforting therefore that most Nigerians are in agreement
that the past must be examined. Nigerians want to know what
transpired in those years. They want to know how their commonwealth
was managed or mismanaged. They want to know who did what
and for what reasons. And if possible, they want to see people
pay for their sins against the country. So, we commend the
House for this initiative. We also praise its members for
their undisguised show of dedication and diligence so far.
It is hoped that these will be brought to bear on the oil
sector probe.
In all of this, the place of the executive branch must not
be discounted or discountenanced. The truth is that all the
work of the probe panels would amount to nothing if the executive
displays disinterestedness or cavalier attitude towards their
recommendations. It is the executive’s responsibility
to implement the panels’ recommendations.
But we should quickly add here that we are not comfortable
with the cold, distant attitude of the executive to all the
panels already sitting and the revelations that have been
coming out from there. Of course, the executive must respect
the principle of separation of powers, but its aloofness,
as far as these issues are concerned, worries us.
However, we want to appeal that it shows maximum interest
in the recommendations of not only the oil sector probe panel,
but also all the probes that there are and those that may
still come.
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