Ex-agitators to Tinubu: Probe alleged upfront sales of crude oil in Buhari’s administration

Nathan Tamarapreye, Yenagoa

Niger Delta ex-agitators have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to probe the allegation that at the twilight of the past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari crude oil was sold upfront and the money taken away.

The National Secretary, First Phase Ex-Agitators, Nature Dumale, insisted that Tinubu should investigate the allegation that crude oil was sold three years in advance shortly before he took over the mantle of leadership.

Dumale in a statement on Wednesday, said the development was part of the reason for the foreign exchange crisis and the worsening inflation in the country.

He said if President Tinubu failed to probe the allegation, they would send a petition to the International Court of Justice to come to the rescue of the people.

He said: “We want President Tinubu to investigate the NNPCL and oil and gas sector. Why did the last administration sell petroleum products upfront and took the money away? Why did they leave Nigeria indebted? It is affecting our foreign exchange and that is why we are having 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 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 organisations 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 aid 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”.