A coalition of civil society groups seek Alison-Madueke’s sacked as Petroleum Minister
By Shout-Afrca.com Correspondent Chinyere Ogbonna – A coalition of civil society groups have called for the sacking of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to ensure proper investigation of the oil sector without her interference.
Minister of petroleum resources Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday,the groups applauded the expected probe of the oil industry but said the minister must be aware that the probe cannot go on without her being questioned on some issues that may arise.
Some of the groups that made the demand were the Occupy Nigeria group, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties, the Save Nigerian Group and the Anti-Corruption League. Others are Nigerian Youth League, Youth Democratic Front, Reclaim Nigeria and Initiative for Transparency and Accountability.
Minister of petroleum resources Mrs. Deziani Alison-Madueke
Presenting the position of the groups, a spokesperson for the group, Mrs. Roz Ben- Okagbue said the news of the expected probe of the oil sector by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC was a welcome development.
She said, “We applaud this move by the petroleum minister. She however expressed regret that her action does not go far enough as it lacks the transparency and seriousness the issue deserves.
“The petroleum minister is well aware that a probe of the petroleum ministry is a probe of her. “We call on the minister to step aside during the period of probe so as not to influence the exercise knowingly or otherwise.
“In the same vein, we call on the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Austin Oniwon, to step aside and also for the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency to do the same.”
The groups said if the affected government officials failed to resign, President Goodluck Jonathan must order them to proceed on indefinite leave pending the conclusion of the investigation.
According to them this was the only way Nigerians would have faith in the exercise.
Speaking On the suspension of the trike by the organised labour, the group said it was unfortunate that the leadership of the Labour did not inform the civil societies and the national executive committee of their respective unions before taking the decision.
“We challenge the leadership of the organised labour to tell Nigerians who they consulted with before calling off the strike. Until they do, we believe that this is a well orchestrated charade,” the groups said.
