$16bn Power Project: Ezekwesili Calls For Independent Probe Of Obasanjo

Former Education Minister and Co-convener, Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG), Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, has called for an “independent expert panel” to be set up to investigate former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged mismanagement of $16 billion electricity fund under his tenure as civilian president.

Ezekwesili made the call on Wednesday after President Muhammadu Buhari tackled Obasanjo for claiming to have spent the whopping sum on electricity in the country without any resultant impact in the power sector.

Buhari had asked, “Where was the power after a former president claimed to have spent $16 billion on the project?,” suggesting that the administration of the former president squandered the sum.

But Obasanjo, who was quick to address Buhari’s disparagement against his administration on Tuesday, lambasted the president while reiterating the current administration’s alleged incompetence in addressing the nation’s challenges.

The former president challenged Buhar, his “co-travelers” “and in fact encourages, anybody to set up another enquiry if in doubt and unsatisfied with the EFCC report and that of the Hon. Aminu Tambuwal-led ad-hoc committee” that “exculpated President Obasanjo of any wrong-doing concerning the power sector.”

Reacting however to the bicker between both leaders, Mrs Ezekwesili said via Twitter: “The power sector is too important a determinant of the level of productivity and competitiveness of each Nigerian, business and country as a whole to be mired in unresolved controversy among the political class.”

The former minister added that “Let’s have an independent expert panel inaugurated to investigate.”

“The “$16Billion Power Sector expenditure allegation” has a way of always surfacing for public debate whenever there are squabbles within the political circle.

“I wish to assert that it is time for citizens to demand independent and exhaustive expert investigation of that matter,” she said.