$25 bill NNPC scandal: Suspend Baru now for uncompromised outcome of inquiry – Wike

Sunday Nwakanma – Umuahia

Governor Chief Nyesom Wike of River State last weekend, called for the immediate suspension of the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Maikanti Baru.

Wike made this call in Umuahia while answering questions from journalists in Umuahia when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, expressed over what he called “the loud silence of prominent Nigerians on the embarrassing corruption scandal” rocking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The immediate suspension of the Group Managing Director, Wike said is expedient to give room for uncompromised outcome in line with the president declaration that no one will be exempted in the fight against corruption.

According to Wike, “We have told Nigerians that soon now or later they will know the truth about the reality of the political promises made by the ruling parties, the anti corruption war and APC government and the realities of every promises they made to us, here we were told they will fight corruption to the last, they told us no one will be exempted”.

“It has never happened before, a supervising Minister of petroleum wrote an eight pages of letter well worded , saying that 25billion naira contract was awarded without the board approving and some other appointments that were made without his knowledge , this is interesting, when judges were accused of corruption they were told to step aside , obviously, if it’s a country that claims we are fighting corruption, but up till now we have not heard that anybody has been asked to step aside , so that they can conclude investigation, but if you are investigating them while in office the outcome will be compromised. That is what I am saying.

“Every day we hear Dasuki stole one billion dollars, and every day on the pages of newspaper we hear Daziani properties have been found even in heaven , what about this 25 billion dollars contract scam approximately 9 trillion naira and nobody is talking, everywhere is quiet, so that we become good boys may God help us” .

The Rivers State Governor said the scandal will enable Nigerians to access this anti corruption war of Mr. President, stating “It’s time for Nigerians to now see, are we fighting corruption? Are we really fighting corruption? Or we are fighting corruption against those who are perceived opponent, who have refused to join them, I have never seen this kind of scandalous act before in my life, not even in all my public career I have never heard of this”

So many promises, the Rivers Governor said were been made by the federal government, alleging that none has been fulfilled, noting also that PDP governors are doing everything possible to make PDP stronger ahead of 2019.