A group of former agitators from the Niger Delta region urged President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday to investigate allegations that, towards the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, crude oil was pre-sold, and the proceeds were misappropriated. Nature Dumale, the National Secretary of the First Phase Ex-Agitators, emphasized the need for Tinubu to probe claims that crude oil was sold three years in advance shortly before he assumed leadership. Dumale, in a statement to DAILY POST, asserted that this practice contributed to the foreign exchange crisis and exacerbation of inflation in the country.
He stated that if Tinubu does not initiate an investigation into the allegations, the ex-agitators would submit a petition to the International Court of Justice for intervention.
Dumale expressed the group’s desire for Tinubu to scrutinize the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the oil and gas sector, questioning why the preceding administration sold petroleum products upfront and diverted the funds, resulting in national indebtedness. He connected these actions to the ongoing foreign exchange crisis and called on Tinubu to take decisive action.
The statement emphasized the urgency for Tinubu to address the situation, citing the impact on the nation’s foreign exchange and the rising inflation rates. The ex-agitators insisted that Nigerians supported Tinubu and called on him to establish a noteworthy legacy by investigating and holding accountable those responsible for the alleged mismanagement.
Dumale also appealed to Tinubu to disclose the identities of politicians, corporate organizations, and contractors implicated in the forensic audit report of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). He argued that failure to prosecute those implicated would perpetuate corruption in the country and undermine the efforts to curb malpractices.