Senator Gbenga Obadara yesterday called on the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to resign or be redeployed to another ministry to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) free hand to investigate the payments of N1.3trillion subsidy on petrol and kerosene last year.
The call is sequel to the letter by Mrs. Alison-Madueke inviting the anti-graft body to probe all imports subsidy payments on fuel and kerosene.
Obadara, who represents Ogun Central Senatorial District on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the Red Chambers spoke in Abuja in an exclusive interview with The Nation.
According to the Senator, Mrs. Alison-Madueke ought to step aside to allow for “decency”, “probity” and “transparency”.
Obadara said: “The way forward is what they have just started and I can tell you, the Minister of Petroleum cannot approbate and reprobate.
“She is not supposed to be on that seat while that investigation is being done by the EFCC.
“Morally, she is supposed to be removed to another Ministry if the President still wants her to be a part of his government.
“In that, there would be probity. In that, Nigeria will see that for the first time we have taken the bull by the horn. We must take the bull by the horn.
“Let a fresh blood be injected into that Ministry. Believe me, if you have character, even elected and appointed people, we should have character to say no when we are being confronted on things that bothers on national issues.
“It means the President must have done much. It is like who comes to equity, goes with clean hands. If this has been there for these very good months and nothing was done until when this issue of subsidy removal came up and you are writing on the 12th of January to EFCC as if she just resumed that office last week.
“And mind you, it was during her tenure N1.3trillion was spent as subsidy. No! She should be able to have decency to step aside and let a clean job be done.”
Earlier, Senator Obadara bemoaned the huge economic loses that attended the one week labour strike and street protests saying they could have been avoided through wise counsel.
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Source: The Nation
