The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to set up a commission of inquiry that will look into crude oil theft amounting to N5.8 trillion under the previous Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration.
The Governor stated this while receiving members of The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights CDHR who had come to present a letter to the Governor for onward transmission to President Muhammadu Buhari at the governor’s office in Osogbo.
Aregbesola commended CDHR for joining President Muhammadu Buhari in his commitment to recover the resources of the country that was stolen by corrupt public officers.
The Governor having gone through the letter in which the group chronicled her expected actions to be taken by the President on how to recover looted resources of the Nation advised that CDHR not to overlook the area of the crude oil theft under the watch of PDP administration.
He stated that the present administration will be doing the Nation good by setting up an inquiry into how four hundred thousand barrels of crude oil was being stolen daily undiscovered with all the security agencies in the country.
Aregbesola while sharing in the zeal and passion of CDHR on loot recovery said, “in the middle of 2013 a party at the helms of affairs of our country told us that four hundred thousand barrels of crude oil were being stolen on a regular basis for 24months, we never heard that it stopped for that period.
“What we have lost is 5.8 trillion Naira to an unprotected crude oil theft in 24 months. We can imagine how many roads, schools and quality of electricity we could get from such amount.
“I am not underestimating your demands but you still need to add to your demand requesting how the country lost Four Hundred Thousand (400,000) barrels of crude oil everyday”.
He added that all hands must be on deck as it is on fighting corruption on the scourge of low productivity that the country is facing.
The governor urged CDHR to be vehement as it is in condemning corruption to embark on campaign that will charge Nigerians to be productive.
Aregbesola said, “Aside from corruption, what is actually affecting the country is low productivity, as we are condemning corruption, we should also charge ourselves to be productive. We should be able to earn our living as a people.
“I promise to deliver this letter to the President when he comes back from China and I will let him know how passionate you are on the war against corruption”. The Governor stressed.
Speaking earlier, the state Chairman CDHR, Comrade Akinkunmi Asifat, who led members to the Governor’s Office, said that all the recovered looted fund should not be allowed to be looted again.
He urged government to use the recovered funds to alleviate the sufferings of the masses by building social infrastructure.
The CDHR boss condemned the continued pillaging of the Nigeria treasury and the total black out enveloping the country.
He said, “We are in darkness despite all the money claimed to have been spent on electricity. We have come to bring a letter to Mr. Governor to help us transmit to Mr. President.
“The masses are tired of what is happening. Things are not well in the country and we can’t continue to pretend. Fuel is being sold for N250. Nigeria belongs to Nigerians, we have the collective ownership of this country,” he emphasised.
