The former Deputy National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has urged the Federal Government to tell Nigerians the truth about the oil sector, whether government is still subsidising the oil sector or not, because there is a confusing report about what is going on in the sector.
Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, on Thursday, Bode George said Lagos State Government should come out clean on the claim by Aliko Dangote that he paid $100 million to acquire the land, where he built his refinery at Lekki.
George said the public is interested in knowing those who benefited from the money. He said the clarification is necessary because, Dangote claimed he paid Lagos State Government for the land and land owners in Lekki are bitter about taking over there land unjustly.
The PDP Chieftain also faulted the decision of the Federal Government to sell crude oil to Dangote refinery in naira.
He said such move will lead to killing the economy because crude oil is the only major means of income which generate foreign currency to the Federal government, which is used to build external reserves, arguing that the reserve has been depleted of recent.
Bode George said the statement made recently by the Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) that he would talk at the appropriate time is also very disturbing.
He said: “In the oil sector, you hear there is subsidy today, tomorrow you will here there is no subsidy,we want to know, Nigerians are not properly briefed as to what is happening in that sector. Subsidy, no subsidy which one should we believe, where is the truth.
“Aliko Dangote said he gave $100 million to buy all that land in Lekki,which of my people in Lekki has benefited from that money, or the government just grabbed the money and those people are thrown out of the environment,is it right?
“What i think went on last week is just a tea on the iceberg the truth will come up one day. My perception of the oil sector of our country is very disappointing, who is the minister of petroleum?Who is the chairman of NNPCL? Akinyelure from Ondo State.
“Kyari made a statement yesterday (Wednesday) that is very worrisome he said at the right time he would talk.Which right time? Rome is burning the Emperor is sleeping,which other right time will he talk?
“As an elder statesman, I can’t just keep quiet,we have the gen z generation, they are restless, and what is happening in the North is a reflection of the restlessness of the youths.”
Bode George said failure of government to brief the populace about her polices is responsible for the protest currently going on in the country.
“Those who went round to protest did so out of frustration, because they don’t get feedback from government, because it is their constitutional right of government officials to always give them feedback on what is going on, because they elected the people into power,” he said.
