Thursday, 17 May 2012
Ribadu I Know; Agbakoba I know; But Tell Me About This Task Force
By Choice Ekpekurede
As I continue to follow President Goodluck Jonathan, my affect seamlessly switches between rage and pity. The very few happy moments were occasioned by the appointments of Attahiru Jega, Reuben Abati, and, just recently, Nuhu Ribadu as chairman of the Petroleum Task Force. I was also happy to note that Olisa Agbakoba is a member of the task force. Reuben Abati has already developed an about-face and thrown his good name into the gutter. How Jega turned out is now public knowledge – we had some of the world most expensive elections in 2011, yet as fraught with fraud and rigging as any other bad elections Nigeria has had (the Delta rerun and April election are ready examples).
Certainly, I am happy that Ribadu was picked as chairman of the Petroleum Task Force. But as a progressive, I know we must ask the tough questions that are begging for answers. First, it is obvious that the task force is not the product of serious deliberation. It is not a commission established by law. It is not the EFCC, which was created by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Establishment act (2004). It is a whimsical design that can be easily erased or crushed by another capricious move by the Federal Executive Council. It is a knee jerk contraption, whose powers and reach are yet unclear. This is not how corruption is fought. The battle against Nigeria's corruption must be deliberate, well thought out, all-out, and relentless.
This sort of half-hazard design is characteristic of Jonathan's every move – whether it is the removal of oil subsidy, the announcement to build new federal universities, the nebulous SURE (Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment program), the guns-for-money exchange program (a.k.a. Amnesty Program), the continuation of the despicable and corrupt security votes that are never accounted for, you name it. Not one of his programs or policies is the product of serious, rigorous deliberation and firmly established in good laws.
Furthermore, Jonathan has shown a consistency in avoiding the very burning issues that cannot be swept under the carpet and meandering to issues that can wait a while. Insecurity of lives and property is unprecedented (the mindless murders of southerners in the north continues unabated; MEND has worn its cloak of terrorism and begun bombing), our electoral system remains as broken as ever, corruption is more blatant and refractory, the lack of constant power is more real than ever, the call for a sovereign national conference is still very deafening; yet Jonathan continues to pursue a different set of priorities.
Anyway, the Petroleum Task Force has been created and Nuhu Ribadu is the chairman. Now what? What should I and my people in Nairaland expect? Has the fight against corruption begun? Methinks not so fast.
How will the task force be funded and what will be the remuneration of its members? There does not appear to be any provision for the task force in the 2012 budget.
What powers does the task force have? Can it arrest and put people on trial? There is nothing of such in its terms of reference.
Can it terminate questionable contracts and revoke licenses or oil blocks that have been given away without following due process? There is no such thing in its terms of reference.
What would be the relationship between the Task Force, the Minister for Petroleum Resources, the Attorney General, and the Inspector General of Police? There is no indication of this in its terms of reference.
Or is the task force going to be an advisory body merely that would gather information and submit said information to the Federal Executive Council, which will never act on the report/recommendation?
It seems to me, as I read the terms of reference of the task force, that it has no real teeth. I am doubtful even about its ability to bark. The task force appears to be nothing other than a group of people tasked with the responsibility of oil debt collection for the Federal Government.
While I am excited about Ribadu and Agbakoba, I'm afraid that some of Nigeria's finest are merely being made to walk in the footsteps of Reuben Abati. I hope this is not the case; I really do.
Having said the above, I wish the task force well; I wish the members success. But we will be watching and we will hold the members to the same standards that we hold Goodluck Jonathan to. Nigeria’s progressives will be unsparing and relentless in the fight against corruption and the insanity in government. This will be true for the Petroleum Task Force.
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@tundemess--GEJ ride on na god give u!
Submitted by deri (not verified) on February 10, 2012 - 00:44.
How can the job Ribadu is going to do be the same with the PTF that Buhari headed how? See how shallow minded you can be-its like the drugs are yet to wear off on you. These guys were called in to investigate the oil import deals and to help streamline things-if possible arrange to have the money recovered and thieves referred to the appropriate agencies for prosecution. The other body SURE headed by Kolade, is the one which may operate along the lines of checking how revenue on fuel subsidies are spent-was buhari ever asked by abacha to check how the importation of fuel was done-buhari awarded contracts-is ribadu also going to award jobs to his former friends in the press and police? Ribadu and his assistant in efcc, lamorde are now back to where they have often yearned to be-so we may soon see an end to the string of blackmails in the system. Cheers
it's a change of name from Abacha's PTF
Submitted by tundemash (not verified) on February 9, 2012 - 23:20.
Mr. Choice Ekpekurede,
The so called task force is like Abacha's PTF; it's just a change of name and yet Dumbo isn't even humble enough to credit Abacha for that idea.
It has nothing to do with anti-corruption. It is a personal creation of Jonathan and can be erased tomorrow by him too. What puzzles me is if the Ministers of Petroleum and Finance are not competent enough to manage oil money ..... what are they still in office ? Only God know how many committees are in Nigeria now. Jonathan seems to dream, eat and breathe committees; a sign of emptiness. Transformation my ass !!
it's a change of name from Abacha's PTF
Submitted by tundemash (not verified) on February 9, 2012 - 23:19.
Mr. Choice Ekpekurede,
The so called task force is like Abacha's PTF; it's just a change of name and yet Dumbo isn't even humble enough to credit Abacha for that idea.
It has nothing to do with anti-corruption. It is a personal creation of Jonathan and can be erased tomorrow by him too. What puzzles me is if the Ministers of Petroleum and Finance are not competent enough to manage oil money ..... what are they still in office ? Only God know how many committees are in Nigeria now. Jonathan seems to dream, eat and breathe committees; a sign of emptiness. Transformation my ass !!
The task force' hands are tied from inception
Submitted by Peter Oeia (not verified) on February 9, 2012 - 21:45.
By the revelations from the House probe, its evident that the Petroleum minister cannot claim ignorance of the corruption in the oil industry. Why should the ministry of petroleum be the one to set up this task force and not the presidency ?.Why must the task force report to the petroleum minister whose hands are not clean from the corruption in the oil industry ?. Can the oil minister be a judge in iher own cause?.Can the task force probe the minister or her cronies, if necessary ?. Methink that the hands of the task force are tied from the beginning. GEJ should be more serious in his fight against corruption. . GEJ please give more powers to the task force and ask them to report to you directly, that is, if you are ready to sanitize the oil industry. God bless Nigeria
The task force' hands are tied from inception
Submitted by Peter Oeia (not verified) on February 9, 2012 - 21:44.
By the revelations from the House probe, its evident that the Petroleum minister cannot claim ignorance of the corruption in the oil industry. Why should the ministry of petroleum be the one to set up this task force and not the presidency ?.Why must the task force report to the petroleum minister whose hands are not clean from the corruption in the oil industry ?. Can the oil minister be a judge in iher own cause?.Can the task force probe the minister or her cronies, if necessary ?. Methink that the hands of the task force are tied from the beginning. GEJ should be more serious in his fight against corruption. . GEJ please give more powers to the task force and ask them to report to you directly, that is, if you are ready to sanitize the oil industry. God bless Nigeria
For accepting this charade, Ribadu is a disappointment
Submitted by Scarface (not verified) on February 9, 2012 - 18:07.
What was he thinking? well, the lute of money is too strong, even for the self righteous Ribadu...sooo disappointed!
I can't say more,you've said
Submitted by TINA HANIS (not verified) on February 9, 2012 - 15:19.
I can't say more,you've said it all.The terms of refrence of the task force are a test for anyone who trully desires to make a difference.
It Talks, Eats, Walk Like a Fat Cat, ... It is Definitely One
Submitted by Frankly_Speaking (not verified) on February 9, 2012 - 13:50.
It very evident according to Nigerian proverb that 'the sheep wey follow dogs around go start dey east shit unexpectedly' also dey don talk am say the fly wey no dey hear word na him dey follow dead body enter grave'. If all Rubadu said about OBJ's tenure of office of 8 years that corruption under him was more than those under IBB then Nigerians really need to question him, his integrity and his sense of duty to Nigerians. When he was wanted out of his OBJ's given position even his detractors from the North pointed out his millions worth of properties in DUBAI and ABUJA.
Like Agbakoba and Reuben Abati have being called to 'come chop' and that is exactly what they will do but I bet after GEJ's office is over Ribadu will point out the massive scale corruption in GEJ's cabinet too.Ribadu doesn't give a hoot about Nigerians, he even took the job 'alone' without the express backing of his political party.You were a work dog under OBJ and the same you would b under GEJ.
