Kenneth Ehigiator
20 June 2008
Lagos — THE National Conscience Party (NCP) has thrown its weight behind electricity workers' threat to embark on strike should the federal government declare emergency in the power sector without carrying them along.
The party also vowed to popularise the contents of the Freedom of Information Bill as well as share with Nigerians information on how the law can be put to use to bring transparency to governance in Nigeria.
National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, said: " The NCP fully identifies with the reservations expressed by the union of electricity workers over the proposed declaration of state of emergency in the power sector.
"From the nationwide broadcast of Mr. President a few weeks ago, we gathered that a law will be passed to compel Nigerians to pay more for electricity we are not getting and won't get more regularly until the year 2011."
Continuing, Dr. Obayuwana queried: "Which comes first, higher tariffs or regular supply of power?
He said the NCP would never support any government's programme that is to impoverished Nigerians all in the name of providing incentives for private investment in the power sector.
On the Freedom of Information Bill, Dr. Obayuwana said the NCP would mobilise Nigerians against members of the House of Representatives who are opposed to the Bill.
According to him, the Freedom of Information Bill represents one of the potent forces in the campaign against corruption in the country.
"We of the NCP are resolved to popularise the contents of the Bill and share with the Nigerian people how the law can be put to use to bring transparency to governance in Nigeria and eliminate shady dealings with our collective resources."
"We shall along with other groups, mobilise our people to make life unbearable for the backward elements in the National Assembly who, for selfish reasons, want to retard the attainment of progress in Nigeria in this regard.
"We can forsee a situation where the political fortunes of many members of the National Assembly can suffer irredeemably over this issue," the NCP leader said.
On the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dr. Obayuwana wondered why the federal government had gone ahead to appointment a new chairman for the commission when the seat was not vacant.
He said the government was restructuring the EFCC to deliberately whittle down the fight against corruption, adding that the furore generated by the removal of Mr. Nuhu Ribadu was enough proof that Nigerians are still ruing his removal.
Obayuwana, however, said opposition parties and other interest groups in Nigeria would ensure that the war against corruption was on course, even if the EFCC became a toothless bulldog.
He said: " If those seeking to hijack the EFCC and make it impotent believe that by so doing they will win respite, they would be shocked.
"Opposition parties like the NCP, Labour and civil society groups enjoy tremendous good will from the masses of the people from whom nothing can be hidden.
The clerks, secretaries, drivers and other support staff of corrupt public officers would continue to give us information which we will publicise and challenge the EFCC with where we believe it is falling below expectation."
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