Bankole declares: Blame Yar’adua for power failure

[Muhsin]

Bankole declares: Blame Yar'adua for power failure 

Written by Tashikalmah Hallah & Francis Okeke     
Tuesday, 17 March 2009 


Hon Speaker Dimeji BankoleNigerians should hold President Umaru Yar'adua and the Executive arm of the Federal Government responsible for the epileptic power situation in the country, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole said in Abuja yesterday. He said the House's probe of power sector spending during the Obasanjo years was not responsible for the failure to stabilize this country's epileptic power supply situation. Bankole also said the N700 billion deficit in the 2009 budget poses a big challenge to the country's economy.

The Speaker spoke as the House prepares to consider tomorrow the report of its Committee on Power which investigated an alleged spending of $16 billion on the sector from 1999 to 2007 "without commensurate results" during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Speaking at the 6th edition of the National Roundtable for Good Governance organized by the Faculty Board of Initiatives, a group in the House of Representatives, Bankole said the House had to investigate the power sector in order to unravel its problems and find out why huge sums spent in the past had not brought any improvement in power supply. He added that investigation was just part of its legislative oversight function. The theme of this edition of the Roundtable for Good Governance was "Agricultural development in Nigeria and the challenges of food security."

Represented by the Chief Whip of the House, Emeka Ihedioha (PDP, Imo), the Speaker maintained that "while carrying out the assignment, the House did not prevent the executive from working to improve the worsening power state in the country." He said the National Assembly approved N67 billion in the 2008 Appropriation Act for power as a sign of its commitment to improving the sector.

He added, "The House of Representatives decided on its own to embark on the power probe to unravel what has led to the failure. We did not stop the executive from carrying out its functions or further action on power projects. We can't take responsibility for the power situation as it is today. The onus of providing steady power supply for the people to the country lies within the framework of the executive. We only have the responsibility of over sighting what the executive is saying. N67 billion was provided in 2008 to boost power supply. If the executive fails to deliver on its promises, you hold the executive responsible."

With regards to the 2009 budget and the state of agricultural development in the country, the Chief Whip said Nigeria has to diversify its economy and specifically explore the agricultural sector among other sources of revenue if it is to successfully implement the 2009 budget.

"We are really in difficult times as oil which is the mainstay of the economy is now in the abyss. The threat in the Niger Delta is bringing production below the targets of the 2009 budget, and I think we really need a special miracle to make the budget work."

In his presentation, the Dean of the Initiatives and chairman, House committee on media and public affairs, Rep Eseme Eyiboh (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) said the theme of the sixth roundtable was important in reviewing key issues and strategies that will not only reposition the agricultural sector, but also boost agricultural development in Nigeria as well as ensure food security for the teeming population.

Eyiboh said results of food security assessment in 2005 indicate that over 750 million people were threatened by food insecurity in 70 countries of the world of which Nigeria is one, just as he added that with increased poverty, Nigeria needs to take proactive steps towards saving its people.

He said, "We are prepared to partner with all groups and the corporate private sector in particular in order to meet the expectations of the mass public and yearnings of the Nigerian people for responsive governance". Also at the event were the representatives of the governors of Kwara and Benue states, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, and people from the banks and the academia. 

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