GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to order a probe into the N10 billion scandal rocking the House of Representatives.

Speaking as guest lecturer at the 20th Anniversary of TELL Magazine on "Agenda for Deepening Democracy, Good Governance in the Next Four Years and Beyond", the governor said:

"The latest report of an apparently dubious overdraft facility amounting to N10billion cannot be swept under the carpet by the EFCC and the ICPC. The public is anxious to unravel the truth about this and other previous reports of apparent misuse and sharing of public funds."

Oshiomhole, who also condemned the post-election violence in some parts of the country, said identified masterminds of the ignoble action should be brought to book.

He also said the Federal Government has to create jobs as a panacea to the tensions and unnecessary provocations and attacks in parts of the country, saying "the greatest threats to democracy are the tensions and explosions usually provoked by mass unemployment, poverty, illiteracy and other consequences of economic and social dislocation."

According to him, "the real challenge of economic management is the creation of jobs. The current level of unemployment, which is officially estimated at 21 percent, is alarming indeed. It is commendable that the President already recognises the job creation imperative, as underscored by his convening of a Jobs Summit.

This is certainly not enough. In the next four years, the Federal Government needs to embark on fresh and more creative initiatives to boost domestic production through stable and proactive macro-economic policies, especially in the areas of interest rate and exchange rate management."

While condemning the post-election riots, Oshiomhole said those found to have had a hand in it should be prosecuted. "The premeditated killings, arson and destruction of property that occurred in some states after the presidential election are unfortunate. But even more unfortunate is the attempt to describe them as 'protests', when in fact they were merely acts of inhumanity and criminality.

To describe murder and arson as 'protests' is to devalue the very essence of that word," he said. He said as an activist and a democrat, he remains convinced in the legitimacy and constitutional sanctity of protests, including street protests, over any matter.

"Indeed, one of the key features that distinguish democracy from dictatorship is the right of citizens to collective representation and ventilation of grievances through protests. But, this must be peaceful and should not occasion any danger to the lives of fellow citizens. Above all, protests should be anchored by people who are willing and able to accept leadership and responsibility. In any event, in Edo State in April 2007, we protested the rigging of the gubernatorial election, but without any destruction of life or property," the governor added.

Oshiomhole, however, advised that politicians be encouraged and that political parties which have grievances arising from the conduct of any election "to own up and publicly articulate them, as we have seen in Egypt, Iran, Tunisia and so on, I join in condemning the perpetrators of the last round of killings and urge that the law be allowed to take its full course," he said the lecture, which was part of activities lined up to celebrate the 20th anniversary of TELL, was attended by media chiefs, including Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher of Vanguard; Prince Nduka Obaigbena, Publisher, Thisday; Alade Odunewu, retired Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), and representatives of the governors of Niger and Abia States, among others.