On Wednesday, certain ex-agitators from the Niger Delta region urged President Bola Tinubu to initiate an investigation into claims that during the final phase of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, there was a pre-sale of crude oil, and the proceeds were siphoned away.
Nature Dumale, the National Secretary of First Phase Ex-Agitators, stressed the necessity for Tinubu to look into the allegations that crude oil was sold three years ahead just before he assumed leadership.
In a statement, Dumale highlighted how this action contributed to the foreign exchange crisis and exacerbated inflation within the country.
He warned that if Tinubu doesn’t pursue an inquiry into these claims, the ex-agitators would consider filing a petition with the International Court of Justice to seek redress for the affected populace.
He said: “We want President Tinubu to investigate the NNPCL and the oil and gas sector. Why did the last administration sell petroleum products upfront and take the money away? Why did they leave Nigeria indebted? It is affecting our foreign exchange and that is why we are having a dollar crisis.
“We are calling on President Tinubu to do the needful because Nigerians are behind him. He needs to set a track record and he needs to do something that Nigerians will remember him. He needs to call these people to order.
“The allegation is everywhere that former President Buhari sold crude oil three years ahead of time. Was Buhari aware of this? Or was it done by the cabal around him? People are dying every day because of the rising inflation. If nothing is done, we will write to the International Court of Justice because this is the height of injustice against our people.
“Nigerian foreign exchange is experiencing a crisis. It means that despite the crude oil we are selling outside the country, there is no dollar coming in. We must rise up and take responsibility especially those saddled with the responsibility of leadership.”
Dumale also appealed to Tinubu to unveil the identities of all politicians, corporate organizations, and contractors indicted in the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
He said such report developed with ‘billions of Niger Delta money’ should not be swept under the carpet, adding that not prosecuting indicted persons would only aide and abet corruption in the country.
He said: “There is a forensic audit report carried out by NDDC. Billions of naira were spent to develop the report. Politicians and businessmen were indicted in that report. Up till now, they have not brought anybody to book. How will people be afraid and why will people not continue to loot the treasure of the country? How will people not continue to amass wealth that they and their sixth generation cannot use? That is why we need to stop it.”
