NNPC scandal: Wike wants Baru suspended
From Linus Umuahia
REffiong, iver State Governor Chief Nyesom Wike has condemned what he called, “the loud silence of prominent Nigerians on the embarrassing corruption scandal”, rocking the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and called for the immediate suspension of its Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru.
Wike said the immediate suspension of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, is “expedient to give room for uncompromised outcome in line with the president’s declaration that no one will be exempted in the fight against corruption”.
The governor stated this while fielding questions from journalists in Umuahia, when he paid a courtesy visit on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.
He said, “we have told Nigerians that sooner than later they will know the truth about the reality of the political promises made by the ruling party. We were told that they would fight corruption to the last; they told us that no one will be exempted.
“When judges were accused of corruption they were told to step aside, but up till now we have not heard that anybody has been asked to step aside so that they can conclude investigation into this matter. If you are investigating an official while in office the outcome will be compromised; that is what am saying”.
Wike said this particular incident will enable Nigerians to access the anticorruption war.
“Now, Nigerians will know whether or not we are fighting corruption. Every day we hear Dasuki stole one billion dollars, and every day on the pages of newspaper we hear Diezani properties have been found; what about this $25 billion contract scam (approximately N9 trillion) and nobody is talking, everywhere is quiet”, he said.
He further stated that his party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) was doing everything possible to ensure that it performs well in the 2019 elections.