Sanusi’s ‘suspension’ as impeachable offence

Reading through the reasons adduced for the suspension of the CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, you would be tempted to think that the federal government is indeed acting in good faith and in the interest of Nigerians. But if you take a critical look at the events leading to it, you would see that […]

Reading through the reasons adduced for the suspension of the CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, you would be tempted to think that the federal government is indeed acting in good faith and in the interest of Nigerians. But if you take a critical look at the events leading to it, you would see that Jonathan and the leadership of the NNPC should be held to account.
Nigerian leader believe that they can always get away with crime and criminality against the Nigerian people; but it is up to us the citizens to prove them wrong and show them that power resides with the followers because we have suffered too long on account of the financial recklessness of our leaders.
NNPC was established in 1977 after the discovery of crude oil and has been the manager of Nigeria’s crude oil that has become a curse to the country, rather than a blessing. Crude oil that has changed the fortunes of many countries and led to their economic expansion as well as growth has become a curse to Nigeria. Increase in oil prices over the years has not led to infrastructural development. Nigerian leaders continue to steal the money from our oil wealth thereby depriving the country and its citizens a better life.
NNPC has continued to hide the truth from Nigerians and as it has always been the case, the presidency has once again tried to cover up the allegation of the non-remittance of about 76 per cent of crude oil revenue amounting to about $20 billion between January 2012 and July 2013. This has happened several times since independence.
Sanusi’s suspension is similar to what happened in 2010, when the then Minister of State for Finance, Mr Remi Babalola was redeployed to another ministry for making a statement that indicted the management of the NNPC. The Jonathan administration did nothing to investigate these claims up until 2013 when another fresh allegation came from a man who should be in the know.
Those who are in the know of activities in the NNPC have at one time or the other made different assertions and allegations. The federal government have always been quick to cover up these allegations rather than bring all the culprits to book because it is true that there exist a cult in NNPC and this cult have been responsible for the problems in the oil sector.
People expect that the federal government should be a good and prudent manager of our nation’s oil and gas resources. But leaders of government are also working in connivance with individuals that are responsible for our economic misfortunes and the impoverishment of Nigerians.
Anyone who tries to expose the ills in NNPC and the oil sector is silenced. We have had governments that rely solely on oil and gas revenues but have they ever wondered what will happen if and when the oil dries up? The plan of most Nigerian leaders is to get whatever they can from our oil revenue before it dries up. They have refused to switch our agrarian economy to an industrial economy especially in the manufacturing sector.  We have been through this road before many times as a nation but the onus lies on the Nigerian public to rise up and demand for justice and accountability from leaders of government.
The federal government has failed us and has shown that the citizens do not matter or have a say in the affairs of the nation. The Presidency makes decisions not minding the thinking and feelings of the generality of the Nigerian population. Several times, atrocities committed by the NNPC are shielded from the public; besides the federal government does not give a damn what people think. This has led to a situation in which another whistleblower would be suspended and accused of financial recklessness just to cover up for the high level of corruption that has been going on in NNPC. In 2010, it was reported that NNPC failed to pay the $5 billion it got from NLNG into the federation account. President Jonathan did not do anything about it besides that was the last we heard about the matter. The president has not told Nigerians why he would shield the truth about activities in the NNPC from them.
Now monies not remitted by NNPC into the federation account have grown from $5 billion to an incredible $20 billion because nothing has been done by the federal government to put an end to this crime. Nigerians are nonchalant and that is the reason we are experiencing more fraud in a corporation that holds the key to our economy.
NNPC is supposed to be transparent and free from financial complexities because of the role it plays in the nation’s economy. It is unfortunate that this corporation has always been enmeshed in one financial misconduct or another. One can only hope that the National Assembly would rise to the occasion and do the needful.
The top officials in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources connive with the NNPC in this; the Presidency has joined in.  
The National Assembly should introduce more stringent laws to fight corruption in the NNPC to help address oil theft and the non-remittance of oil revenue into the federation account. This can only be achieved if members of the legislators are not a party to the quick and brazen defence of the NNPC by the Presidency.
It is difficult making a sense of the FG and NNPC deceit.

Aregbeshola, an author, wrote from Lagos<[email protected]>;