Kalu Dares EFCC to Name Corrupt Govs
CNPP challenges Obasanjo
From Chuks Okocha in Abuja and Ndubuisi Francis in Lagos
Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, yesterday challenged the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu, to name the governors alleged to be involved in the looting of state funds. He also absolved himself of culpability in the allegation.
Also, yesterday, the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) called on President Olusegun Obasanjo to direct Ribadu to name governors involved in stealing of state allocation. The CNPP also wants the names of banks aiding advance fee fraud otherwise called '419'.
In apparent endorsement of the recent outburst by the Minister of State for Finance, Mrs Esther Nenadi Usman that governors convert monthly allocations from the Federation Account due to their states into foreign exchange and siphon it abroad, Ribadu had Monday promised to name the errant governors.
But Kalu who fielded questions from newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos yesterday challenged Ribadu to give practical expression to his boast, claiming Abia State was certainly not among the crowd.
"Well, I want Ribadu to name those governors so Nigerians will be be very proud of him and be sure. That's the only way to stop this nonsense. I know I absolve Abia 100 per cent. We're not involved. I don't know who is involved", he said.
The CNPP in a statement by its General Secretary, Maxi Okwu said, "We commend Alhaji Ribadu for his courage. We however urge him to go the whole hog and name those governors who are involved in this gross abuse of public trust and desecration of their oath of office immediately."
"He must also establish his case against the judiciary with hard evidence and not mere bare-faced allegations.
"The Ribadu revelations are crying challenges to the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo's much touted anti corruption agenda. He must order Alhaji Ribadu to substantiate his allegations, failing which he should promptly sack him.
"This is the only way the public will take the posturing and swan song on no sacred cows seriously.
"The recent statements emanating from the office of the EFCC gives Nigerians and the political parties great cause for concern. We take it that he knows what he is saying and not merely grandstanding to draw media and national attention to himself," CNPP said.
Ribadu had on Tuesday joined the fray over allegations that some governors divert state funds to their personal accounts abroad. He told participants at a seminar on "Advance Fee Fraud and Money Laundering in Nigeria" held in Abuja that his commission will soon blow the lid on governors who siphon allocations to their states abroad.
He noted that a new unit in his commission, Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) which will become operational this month already has the details.
On last week's rapprochement brokered between him and Acting Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) , Chief Tony Anenih by the Oba of Benin, the Abia state Governor said it was always good to resolve disagreements.
Kalu who said he was never under any kind of pressure to reconcile with Anenih, noted that the Benin monarch made a special plea to him that being the younger of the two people in the dispute, he (Kalu) should say sorry whether he was right or wrong.
He said he had no choice than to defer to the words of the monarch. He added jocularly that had he done otherwise, he wouldn't have probably slept in Benin that night.
"Besides, it's an offence to go to the Oba of Benin and tell him no, whether you are right or wrong. Once you are before the Oba, you have to give in.
"I was not under pressure but the Oba made a special plea to me. The Oba said you are the younger one, whether you are right or wrong, you must say openly I am sorry", Kalu said.
He stated that he was one Nigerian that believed very much in settling disputes when they arise. He added that politics is all about disputes and resolution even as he called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of settling disputes amicably.
Asked if Anenih had withdrawn the case against him pending in court, Kalu said: "Well, I am sure that he will do because Chief Anenih would be a gentleman".
On the move to impeach his Deputy, Dr. Chima Nwafor, Kalu said he had already waded into the matter, assuring that Nwafor will eventually not face impeachment proceedings as being threatened by the state House of Assembly.
The Abia State Governor who was also asked to react to the reported plan by the Senate to amend the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act said, since he was not a member of the Senate, he would wait and see the proposal first before consulting widely with "the people of our area".
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