ODUAH AND HER CARS: POLITICAL LEADERS ARE LIARS AND DECEITFUL

As at yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan, queried the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah over the N225 million armoured cars scandal involving her and some agencies of her ministry.

The query, signed by one of his aides asked the minister to explain her role in the purchase of the vehicles which had generated nationwide controversy and to explain the circumstances under which the purchases of the cars were made.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday summoned Mrs Oduah to appear before it tomorrow, Thursday, 24,Octoer,2013at 10:00am, in an investigative hearing over her role in the alleged purchase same sets BMW cars valued at N225 million.
Others expected  to appear before the committee are the Director-General, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); Managing Director, Coscharis Motors; Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service; Director-General, Bureau of Public Procurement; Managing Director, First Bank PLC; Federal Ministry of Finance and members of the general public.

Speaker Aminu Tambuwal  appealed to members of the House committee on Aviation to investigate the matter and report back to the House within one week with specific reference to the following:
*Whether it is correct that the purchase was made;
*Whether the purchase was authorized by any appropriation law;
*Whether NCAA has been complying with FRA on IGR;
*Whether the Minister is entitled to such vehicle under any law in Nigeria;
*Whether (if the answer to 2 above is in the negative) the EFCC and all anti-corruption agencies are not bound to investigate and prosecute all those involved; and
*Whether ( if 2 above is correct) the President and Commander-in-Chief can continue to retain the services of the Hon. Minister and all those involved in the matter.

The Speaker Aminu Tambuwal  then cautioned members saying:
“We need to be mindful of the fact that we are investigating a serious matter; we should reserve our comments so that we are not seen to be judgmental in our arguments.”

Rep Kigbu Haruna, representing Nasarawa State said: “This is an issue we should talk about until we get it right. The  MDAs  are involved in  lots of extra-budgetary spending and who among them is greater than any Senator or an elected member of this House?
“Soon and very soon, Senators and Reps would be asking for bullet-proof cars when we can’t feed the poor or give quality education to the people of Nigeria.”

While Rep Hassan Saleh, representing BenueState asked: “Is this the right way to go!
“Is this the priority of the Ministry of Aviation? Recently, aircraft inspectors were not being paid allowances and what we hear is that bullet-proof cars were bought.”
Rep Emmanuel Jimeh, PDP,  Benue, in his contribution said: “This calls for serious introspection in this House on the way public officers are conducting their businesses. I have listened and I am not in any doubt that the amount of money was used for the purchase of the vehicles, the main question therefore is what is the nexus between the purchase of the vehicles for the minister and air safety in this country.’’

“Recently, an air accident occurred. That is why we must be angry that the people in charge of air safety in the country are busy protecting themselves on the ground. We should stop profligacy in the way that the fund of this country is being managed. This NASS will not sit back and watch the resources of this country being frittered away by a few Nigerians.” He concluded.

Meanwhile in a twist, Yakubu Dati, spokesperson of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, who often speaks for the aviation minister, in a statement on Tuesday was playing on Nigerian Intelligent by saying that there is now evidence that the scandal is the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress and the main target is President Goodluck Jonathan!!!

  “Indeed, Nigerians are mischievously sold the lie that the cars have been paid for – meanwhile they were purchased on higher purchase and payments are yet to even commence,”  

.“Nigerians must also note that the main target of this sinister plot is President Goodluck Jonathan who must be stopped from running for re-election in 2015, in line with the dictates of the G7, who have demanded that Okonjo Iweala, Alison Madueke, and Princess Oduah must go as a condition for a truce (to take place),” Dati said as if trying to divert attention from the corruption itself.

 “No mention is made of the fact that, of all the documents paraded for the vehicles, none mentioned the name of the Honourable Minister of Aviation. This is not withstanding the fact that the NCAA has come out to clarify the issue that entered into the transaction,” Dati said.

If Yakubu Datti  is so stupid to say that 'the scandal is the handiwork of the All Progressives Congress' we Nigerians are not that imbecile to swallow whatever rubbish he was vomiting ,maybe he forgot that  Joe Obi, the spokesperson for Stella Oduah had earlier said that the cars were bought for the minister because her life was threatened by those who opposed her so-called transformation agenda in the aviation sector also in another contradicting press conference, Fola Akinkuotu, Director General of the NCAA said at a press conference that the cars were bought to move VIPs around when they visit the agency.