Unpatriotic elements calling for investigation of Ugochinyere

By Ubanaeke Ujuka:

There is no doubt that those calling for investigation of Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon Ugochinyere Ikenga over allegations of corrupt practices should submit themselves to answer for rot in the oil sector, there have skeleton in there cupboard.

Ugochinyere, the Honorable Member representing the good people of Ideato, Imo State at the Federal House of Representatives must not be deterred in his dedication and sincerity to dig deep into the infectious malady bedeviling the oil sector in Nigeria.

This very patriotic assignment has no single person in mind, but the barrage of attacks on the personality of Ugochinyere ranging from bribery allegation since being handed this national oversight assignment, one is bound to ask, what are the interests driving these forces against Ugochinyere and his team who are mandated to unearth the potpourri of cancerous worms in the oil sector coming from?

It is a shame as a nation how Nigerians dent the image of the country, a mockery and a national disgrace that Nigerians would descend so low to attack people who have been assigned to rescue a sector that has been crippled by pecuniary interests over the years.

It is not surprising that those calling for the sack of Ugochinyere and or disbandment and discontinuation of the investigation are working for behind the scene actors who are holding Nigeria to ransom. This must not be allowed to succeed.

Who are behind these attacks? We need not look far. A particular saying is particularly true when it says that, where there is money there is a crime, where there is money there is misfortune, go for the money; catch the thief. Of course, those calling for the sack of Ugochinyere may not be really those involved in the surreptitious underhand and nefarious activities in the Downstream oil sector.

It is not far from the truth that those who have superintended over the oil sector over the years must have felt threatened with Ugochinyere's thoroughness and patriotic zeal such that those offering bribes are now turning around to accuse him of asking for bribe.

No wonder concerned citizens, patriotic Nigerians and public spirited persons are asking the house leadership and indeed the Federal Government to go for total onslaught against the oil cabals, no matter whom they are and unearth this very barbaric act of holding the nation to ransom. Who are these cabals? Why are the four refineries in Nigeria not working despite billions of dollars ploughed into their habilitation right from the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo till date? Something strange must be happening in that oil sector.

These real people fighting Ugochinyere and his team may not be unconnected with the mismanagement of the oil sector, these hidden faces have also allegedly ensured that the honest intentions of the renewed hope agenda of Mr President is dead on arrival, they have perpetually sworn that nothing will work in the oil sector so as to maintain their dynasty of malfeasance in the sector.

My conclusion and request is this: If the leadership of the present National Assembly is sincerely committed to the revamping, restructuring, enthroning patriotism and business ethics into the operations of the oil sector in Nigerian, they should give every support the members of the House Committee investing the oil sector, they should make sure that they are not deterred in this patriotic assignment.

History awaits their verdict; posterity is also on the lookout to see how the House weathers this storm as corruption fights back in the oil sector.