Peoples Daily

• PDP not in support — Metuh
• It is impossible — Reps insist

By Lawrence Olaoye, Richard Ihediwa, Abuja and Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

There are strong indications that the cabal indicted in the probe into the managemenat of the nation’s oil subsidy regime may have perfected plans to impeach Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal for refusing to intervene in derailing the investigations in order to save their faces.
A member of the Ad-hoc committee that carried out the investigations, Dr. Ahmad Ali, representing Ilorin East/Ilorin South Federal Constituency, who spoke with our reporter in Ilorin, raised  alarm that some powerful Nigerians in the oil sector including serving Governors and Ministers were bent on influencing the government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to remove the Speaker.
Ali, who is also the chairman, Committee on Justice, claimed that the House had uncovered plans by some powerful Nigerians to trivialize the report, saying that it is left for the people and government to support the report as people had sacrificed a lot to get it out.
He said “We learnt some of them (oil cabals) have started mobilising against Tambuwal to impeach him because they have seen that he didn’t disturb us throughout the probe. And Tanbuwal said the report will be debated live so that there is nothing hidden.
“Remove Tambuwal or not, the House and Nigeria remain the same. Even Tambuwal is unremovable. You know he was not elected from outside. He is from inside”, he said.
“The oil business is like a secret society thing. If you don't belong, you don't belong. Oil industry is so small, but so powerful. I'm even surprised that I haven't started seeing advertorials here and there. They have lots of money and have nothing to do with it”, he said.
He added “Petroleum product should not be N60 today, N80 tomorrow by one government and another government comes with N100 or N140. We could achieve standard price on petroleum and that's what this report is all about”, he said.
The ruling party has however dissociated itself from the plot to impeach the Speaker, insisting that Tambuwal’s leadership of the House has advanced President Goodluck Jonathan’s crusade against corruption in public offices by exposing the rot in the oil industry.
Responding to the alleged plot and the PDP’s involvement, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh in a telephone interview with Peoples Daily said “We are happy with the probe; it shows the party is moving in the right direction. We believe that there shouldn’t be any sacred cows.
“They (the House) are helping in achieving President Goodluck Jonathan’s target of fighting corruption. Remember, the PDP has resolved to fight corruption in all its ramifications in the country. Don’t forget we have the majority in the House and the measure of success recorded by the leadership is also that of the party. So, we are solidly behind them.”
Also commenting on the plot, the Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon.  Zakari Mohammed, said “It is impossible to impeach Tambuwal because he holds a pan-Nigerian mandate; any plot to remove him will fail. Yes, some people may be plotting as being insinuated but the probe only pointed out the true situation in the oil sector. They may be making the moves, but as long as they are not part of the 360 members of the House, it will fail. We had made it clear from the onset that we are going to be part of the people.”
Similarly, the Special Adviser to President Jonathan on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emordi, has commended the House for carrying out the investigations insisting that the lawmakers are on the same page with the President in the war against corruption.
She however, noted that the issues that led to the investigations predated the ascent of President Jonathan administration. Senator Emodi spoke yesterday against the backdrop of claims in some quarters of discomfort in the administration over the recommendations of the House ad-hoc committee on the utilization of petroleum subsidies.
According to her, the President had early in his stewardship, directed an investigation into the affairs of the petroleum sector.
“You would realize that when the President came on board, he was faced with these issues and he directed an investigation into the petroleum sector to be conducted by the then Minister of Finance, Mr. Olusegun Aganga. He sharpened this last January with his approval to the Minister of Petroleum to set up an industry wide investigation of the sector last January to be led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.”
“The President’s sincere desire of enthroning probity was clearly manifested by his choice of men of integrity to be involved and he did not mind crossing the partisan barrier to get his opponent in the presidential election to lead the investigation.”
She added: “So, it is not surprising that the President should welcome what the House members have done and he is on the same page on the issues and it is to be noted that none of the high officials of the presidency or the Minister of Petroleum was cited for blame in the recommendations of the House committee.”
“The President is certainly not opposed and is gladdened by this collaboration and it is in conformity with the President’s determination to root out corruption from anywhere it manifests in the polity”.

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