The New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) has challenged the Federal Government to account for the $5 billion which according to reports allegedly disappeared from the nation’s Excess Crude Account (ECA).
The party threw the challenge after a careful study of the disclosure made by the Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, while declaring open the second annual retreat of the NGF on 15th November, 2013 in Sokoto.
According to Governor Amaechi, the Excess Crude Account stood at $9 billion last January but has shrunk to only $4 billion as at today.
The factional PDP in a statement in Abuja, Sunday, November 17, 2013 to NF-Reports by its National Publicist, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze considered the development too weighty to be swept under the carpet.
“We consider this development too weighty to be swept under the carpet in view of the stature of the person making the allegation and the realities on ground. For all intents and purposes, Gov. Amaechi is not a frivolous person and is not known for making frivolous claims. We told Nigerians about the poor handling of our common patrimony by this administration and sadly nobody took us seriously as today, the unmistakable evidence is that Nigeria is broke as the Federal Government now finds it difficult to meet its obligations to states, local governments and contractors” the statement noted.
The group commended the NGF Chairman for bringing the matter to the open and hereby challenges the Federal Government to come to tell Nigerians what it did with the money.
The splinter PDP challenged the anti-graft agencies to prove their relevance by unearthing the whereabouts of the huge sum of money.
While congratulating the NGF for a successful retreat, the faction said it fully support the NGF call for transparency in the operations of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the need to develop a National Security Framework for the country.
“That this administration is running for a price award as the most corrupt administration in the annals of governance in Nigeria is not in doubt but we urge Nigerians to heed the advice of the NGF and stop being docile in the face of monumental impunity in the country. This, in reality, is the only way to rescue Nigeria from the path of doom” the statement concluded.
