Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is ready to beam its searchlight on the whopping $16 billion spent on the power sector by the Olusegun Obasanjo government between 1999 and 2007. He says it has become imperative for the FG to probe the blatant waste of resources while those involved would be on the watch list until the monies are recovered.
Buhari, who stated this during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential campaign rally at the Oxbow lake Pavillion in Yenagoa, said that his fight against corruption is sacrosanct and that if he is re-elected, there would be no going back until the dream of a corrupt free Nigeria is achieved.
“Nigeria has recorded great success in the fight against corruption and insecurity, which has brought economy stabilisation within the three and a half years of my present administration,” Buhari said.
On the 16 billion US dollars spent by the previous government in the country on the power sector, the President said he would ensure that those involved do not go unpunished.
“When we came in 2015, we assured Nigerians of adequate security, stable economy and improvement on infrastructures, we also promised to make people occupying executive positions both in Federal and State governments to be accountable to the people.
“Fighting corruption has been very difficult, but we are committed and determined. As you all know there was no power supply, but we are bringing it back.
“The previous government mentioned on their own that they spent $16 billion for power, but the question is, where is the power? Where is the money they spent? “We will follow them and eventually, God willing, we will get them and get our money, the money of millions of Nigerians, back.
“The APC-led government has boosted agricultural production and discouraged importation. Security has been improved, all the territories seized by Boko Haram in the North East have been reclaimed by this government and we promised to do more during our second term,” he stated.
Earlier, the former Governor of Bayelsa and leader of APC in the state, Chief Timipre Sylva, commended President Buhari’s administration for the magnanimity in constructing an access road to the community of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Otuoke in Ogbia LGA.
He urged the people of Bayelsa to vote President Buhari and all APC candidates during the February 16 presidential and national assembly elections.
“APC is now a stronger party in Bayelsa State because of the performance of President Buhari. It takes the president’s magnanimity to give access road to Otuoke, the community of the immediate past President, Jonathan. This is aside from many other achievements of the president in the state,” Sylva said
Senator Henekien Lokpobiri in his address said “Bayelsa State controlled by PDP, have done nothing. What Dickson has gotten is more than N1.3 trillion in about 7 years from the Federal Government, excluding local government allocations, excluding loans.
”Unfortunately, if you come to Yenegoa it is a ghost of a city; Yenegoa is the darkest city in the world. Dickson is not developing new infrastructure nor is he maintaining the existing ones. Look at the roads, everything has gone kaput.
”Bayelsa people are like forgotten lots. As a minister, I know how much money has always been available for capital development and I know how much impact it has made in the country.
”Bayelsa as a small state if you will extend your war on corruption to Bayelsa, let them account for the 1.3 trillion so that Bayelsa could be developed the way other states are being developed.
”And like I said this Saturday this week, if we have the level playing ground, Mr President we will show you that Bayelsa State is completely APC.”
