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Power probe: Elumelu on the cross
Kelechukwu Ibeneme/Abuja
It was long in coming but has been foretold in the media. Repeated attempts were made
to scuttle the search for truth in relation to epileptic power supply that prevailed in Nigeria
for years and possibly destroy its architects. When the House of Representatives through
a resolution of the House, decided to conduct an investigation into Power Sector Reforms
of the previous administration from 1999-2007, it was clear that monumental corruption
scandal are bound to be unearthed and powerful individuals indicted in view of the billions
of dollars spent with only darkness instead of light to show for it.
saga did not yield any result with a possible damning verdict on powerful individuals, the
guilty parties quickly got a news magazine to raise an allegation of N100million bribe
against the Elumelu Committee. Of course this had the effects of stalling the presentation
of the committee reports to the House in plenary for consideration as well as casting
aspersion on the report and the House.
The matter was referred to the House Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation
and the committee found that allegation to be baseless and false but the allegation had
served its purpose.
The traducers of power probe now decided to take the battle of sweeping the revelations of
the investigations under the carpet to the leadership of the House through the allegation of
corruption in the purchase of Peugeot 407 cars for House’s Committee oversight function.
The distractive antics that this allegation brought to the House further delayed the
presentation of Elumelu’s report. All the while, those who soiled their fingers in the power
reform that deformed the sector allegedly vowed to mobilize funds to ensure that the
consideration of the report is rail roaded to funeral dirges of the report and its subsequent
burial.
And from what we saw on Live NTA coverage of the consideration of the report, with some
members going as far as arguing that there was no report to even consider in spite of the
report having been procedurally tabled and circulated among members, it becomes clear
that vested interests indicted by Elumelu’s committee has gone into overdrive to ensure
that Elumelu’s “baby and bathwater” is thrown out. Indeed, some perceptive observers
described the situation as akin to “burying the report alive”. It took the agitated intervention
of Bankole to salvage the report as he called for an executive session where the House
decided to set up a seven man Review Committee headed by Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to
review the Elumelu Committee report. The committee which submitted its reports about
three week ago was reported to have recommended “saving the baby while throwing away
the bath water” of Elumelu’s report in an attempt save the report and the image of the
House.
But even this was not to the linking of those who contributed by omission and commission
to our parlous power situation. The week the Tambuwal report was to be considered
allegations surfaced against Elumelu in relation to the contract awards for solar power
projects in the 2008 Budget. Without doubt, the allegations by EFCC may just be the
machination of a cabal in the power sector out to get Elumelu at all cost as the only thing
one can deduced from available information is breach of Due Process Regulations in the
awards of contracts. The case of corruption has not been established as funds for the
project, now frozen by EFCC are still intact, with some of the projects completed in record
time with only 15% mobilization.
What can one deduce from the present travail of Elumelu? From all the above the Elumelu
affairs from the investigation marks a defining moment for good governance. While some
forces thrown up by the activism of Bankole – led House of Representatives are bent on
good governance and changing the way we do things through its oversight function, a
reactionary clique bent on holding the nation hostage to perpetual mis-governance,
throwing the nation into physical and literal darkness are fighting a rearguard action. The
reactionary forces are ready to blackmail persons and institutions
championing change.
This is how one sees the travail of Elumelu which is intended to rub off and constrain the
Legislature from championing change. The negative effect of this is that it would dampen
the enthusiasm of people like Elumelu and institution to embark on the challenging task of
addressing problems of our nation inflicted by a microcosm of few selfish elites.
Kelechukwu Ibeneme, 30, Adetokunbo Ademola crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja.
Kelechukwu Ibeneme/Abuja
It was long in coming but has been foretold in the media. Repeated attempts were made
to scuttle the search for truth in relation to epileptic power supply that prevailed in Nigeria
for years and possibly destroy its architects. When the House of Representatives through
a resolution of the House, decided to conduct an investigation into Power Sector Reforms
of the previous administration from 1999-2007, it was clear that monumental corruption
scandal are bound to be unearthed and powerful individuals indicted in view of the billions
of dollars spent with only darkness instead of light to show for it.
- And that was how it turned out. Under klieg
lights, the Hon. Ndudi Elumelu led House
Committee on Power unearthed monumental
corruption with millions of naira collected by
contractors with no work done. Over invoicing
and breach of due process were also discovered
while mismanagement in project execution was
noted. Of course, Elumelu and his committee
stepped on powerful toes with a war chest of
cash to rubbish not only the reports of the
committee but also to impinge on the characters
of those behind the investigation and the
legislative body as an institution. The goal was
to remove wind from the sails of the House over
sight function geared towards good governance
and anti-corruption.
saga did not yield any result with a possible damning verdict on powerful individuals, the
guilty parties quickly got a news magazine to raise an allegation of N100million bribe
against the Elumelu Committee. Of course this had the effects of stalling the presentation
of the committee reports to the House in plenary for consideration as well as casting
aspersion on the report and the House.
The matter was referred to the House Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation
and the committee found that allegation to be baseless and false but the allegation had
served its purpose.
The traducers of power probe now decided to take the battle of sweeping the revelations of
the investigations under the carpet to the leadership of the House through the allegation of
corruption in the purchase of Peugeot 407 cars for House’s Committee oversight function.
The distractive antics that this allegation brought to the House further delayed the
presentation of Elumelu’s report. All the while, those who soiled their fingers in the power
reform that deformed the sector allegedly vowed to mobilize funds to ensure that the
consideration of the report is rail roaded to funeral dirges of the report and its subsequent
burial.
And from what we saw on Live NTA coverage of the consideration of the report, with some
members going as far as arguing that there was no report to even consider in spite of the
report having been procedurally tabled and circulated among members, it becomes clear
that vested interests indicted by Elumelu’s committee has gone into overdrive to ensure
that Elumelu’s “baby and bathwater” is thrown out. Indeed, some perceptive observers
described the situation as akin to “burying the report alive”. It took the agitated intervention
of Bankole to salvage the report as he called for an executive session where the House
decided to set up a seven man Review Committee headed by Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to
review the Elumelu Committee report. The committee which submitted its reports about
three week ago was reported to have recommended “saving the baby while throwing away
the bath water” of Elumelu’s report in an attempt save the report and the image of the
House.
But even this was not to the linking of those who contributed by omission and commission
to our parlous power situation. The week the Tambuwal report was to be considered
allegations surfaced against Elumelu in relation to the contract awards for solar power
projects in the 2008 Budget. Without doubt, the allegations by EFCC may just be the
machination of a cabal in the power sector out to get Elumelu at all cost as the only thing
one can deduced from available information is breach of Due Process Regulations in the
awards of contracts. The case of corruption has not been established as funds for the
project, now frozen by EFCC are still intact, with some of the projects completed in record
time with only 15% mobilization.
What can one deduce from the present travail of Elumelu? From all the above the Elumelu
affairs from the investigation marks a defining moment for good governance. While some
forces thrown up by the activism of Bankole – led House of Representatives are bent on
good governance and changing the way we do things through its oversight function, a
reactionary clique bent on holding the nation hostage to perpetual mis-governance,
throwing the nation into physical and literal darkness are fighting a rearguard action. The
reactionary forces are ready to blackmail persons and institutions
championing change.
This is how one sees the travail of Elumelu which is intended to rub off and constrain the
Legislature from championing change. The negative effect of this is that it would dampen
the enthusiasm of people like Elumelu and institution to embark on the challenging task of
addressing problems of our nation inflicted by a microcosm of few selfish elites.
Kelechukwu Ibeneme, 30, Adetokunbo Ademola crescent, Wuse 2 Abuja.
Ndudi Elumelu, chairman house committee
on power
on power