Sack Fashola, others for incompetence now, CACOL tells Buhari

Iniobong Iwok, Theresa Tekena & Uchechi Emmanuel

Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Raji Fashola, for his inability to justify the funds that has been ploughed into the three sectors under him.

The group insisted that the Ministry have compounded the sufferings of Nigerians in multi-folds; from lack of power supply to the illogical hike in electricity tariffs, from continually decaying infrastructure to death traps as
roads with a Housing sector that is ‘nonexistent ‘ or in absolute comatose.

The group accused the Minister of constantly at loggerheads with institutions, contractors and the citizenry he is supposed to serve.

In a press conference, in Lagos on Thursday, the group Executive Chairman, urged the Lagos state House of Assembly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies to expedite actions of corruption against Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN by the group ‘True Face of Lagos’ when he was the governor of Lagos state. The group expressed worry over the delay by LAHA to reactivate the halted probe of the allegations or start a fresh one, adding that if the allegations are established to be valid and loots are recovered, ploughed back into Lagos economy; it will bring some succor to the ordinary people that constantly have borne the brunt of corruption perpetuated by leaders.

CACOL also called for the removal of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Malami Abubakar. The group condemned the AGF’s unnecessary interventions particularly in cases high profile publicity exposed persons and the needless ‘rivalry’ with the EFCC. The group said that for any government to succeed in its policies, programmes and agenda, the commitment, professionalism, soundness and integrity of the Chief Law Officer of that government must be impeccable and consistent, and based on recent happenings, the current Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has fallen short of these critical requirements.

The group has said that the minister in charge of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun appears to be confused on policies and in-depth economic management. According to CACOL, the economic terrain under her watch is riddled by contradictions, policy somersaults and uncertainties. The group recommended that she should be replaced with better competence and prowess.

While insisting that all the lofty promises of performance by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources under the superintending Minister of State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu which includes making the refineries functional within 6 months and building of new ones given by the minister at the assumption of duty. The group also called on the replacement of the Minister for someone with greater acumen, necessary will and skills.

CACOL urged President Buhari to relieve himself of the position of the Minister of Petroleum Resources immediately and concentrate his energy on supervisory roles over all Ministries and the Presidential leadership of the country while a substantive Minister is appointed for the Petroleum Resources Ministry.

Speaking on the recent clamour for ‘restructuring ‘, Cacol has said that the call to restructure Nigeria is neither the exclusive preserve of the ruling class in their intra-class fractional and factional struggles, nor is it a new call. It is a call, a demand, a bargaining weapon of choice, in their covert and overt intra-class skirmishes as 2019 general elections approaches.

The group noted the present agitations over some projects allocated to the North eastern part of the country, and believe that it is not out of place to allocate more projects to the North-East because of the challenges of that area. The group called on President Buhari to defend his action and disprove insinuations of nepotism against him via transparency, openness and fairness.