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ADP Chairman Urges President Tinubu to Resign as Petroleum Minister Over Corruption Concerns
The National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Sani Yabagi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to step down from his role as Minister of Petroleum, suggesting that his dual position is hindering efforts to address corruption in the oil and gas sector.
In an interview with Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Sunday, Yabagi highlighted that Tinubu’s control over the petroleum ministry could obstruct critical investigations into the sector.
According to Yabagi, the president’s resignation from this ministerial role is necessary to ensure a transparent and thorough probe into the alleged fraudulent activities that have plagued the oil industry for years.
Yabagi expressed concern that the president’s continued role as Petroleum Minister sends a troubling message, implying that he might be protecting corrupt elements within the sector.
He stated, “It doesn’t reflect well on him, as it gives the impression that he is shielding those responsible for the widespread corruption in the oil industry.
We all know that corruption in Nigeria is most rampant in this sector, so Tinubu’s direct involvement in it raises serious concerns.”
The ADP chairman went on to explain that having the president oversee the petroleum ministry creates significant challenges for accountability, as it limits the ability of other government institutions, such as the National Assembly, to hold officials accountable.
“For example, when issues arise, the National Assembly can’t effectively summon anyone because the ultimate authority lies with the president himself.
The Minister of State is powerless in this situation because his direct superior is also the president, who holds ultimate power. This makes it difficult to investigate or interrogate any wrongdoing in the sector.”
Yabagi also pointed out the ongoing crisis in the oil and gas sector, characterized by numerous allegations of corruption and mismanagement, which have contributed to persistent fuel shortages and instability in Nigeria.
“This sector is of paramount importance to Nigeria’s economy. It’s clear that there are fraudulent practices, so why is the president, who acknowledges the existence of these issues, preventing thorough investigations? Why are Nigerians being denied the chance to scrutinize what’s happening in the oil industry?”
He emphasized that, due to the president’s involvement, no one in the petroleum industry has been held legally accountable for any wrongdoings.
“No official in the oil sector has been prosecuted because you can’t take legal action against the president, who holds this dual role. This situation must change if we are to see any real progress in fighting corruption in the sector,” Yabagi concluded.
The call for President Tinubu’s resignation as Petroleum Minister comes at a time when Nigerians are facing significant challenges due to the mismanagement of the oil sector, and many believe that greater transparency and accountability are necessary to address these issues.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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