Traditional rulers across the country, under the aegis of the Association of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, have joined in calling for the probe of the $20bn said to be missing in the account of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
National President of the association, Eze Thomas Obiefule, who addressed newsmen in Owerri, the Imo State capital yestrday, urged the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that the culprits were made to face the law.
He noted that the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was not firm in the fight against corruption, appealing to the Buhari’s administration to tackle corruption headlong.
Obiefule, who is also the traditional ruler of Umudioka Kingdom in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State, also stated that “when Buhari became the Head of State in 1984, the naira was at par with the dollar. In that respect, we believe that his administration will better the economy of the state and put an end to corruption.”
He stressed that the Jonathan’s administration was ruined by sycophants.
The monarch added, “If Buhari wants to succeed, he should do away with sycophants and praise singers and concentrate on rebuilding the nation so as not to disappoint millions of Nigerians that stood for change.
“After our emergency meeting, we have congratulated the President-elect and the All Progressives Congress leaders, especially Ogbonnaya Onu, John Sagaya and Babagana Kingibe, among others and we urge Nigerians to rally round the incoming administration for effective results.
“We are disturbed by the alarming rate of corruption in the country, it is simply unacceptable to us that as an oil producing nation, we still import oil products, while our refineries lie in ruins. We want to the Buhari administration to address the rot in the oil sector and the power sector.”
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