US, Others Caution Buhari On Choice Of Petroleum Minister - Politics

Ahead of the May 29 handover of the Federal
Government administration to Muhammadu
Buhari following his victory at the March 28
polls, friendly countries have continued to show
renewed interest in who occupies some key
posts in the incoming administration.Already US had expressed concern over series of
issues including human rights abuses by the
Nigerian military in its prosecution of the war in
the North-east, and the manner top officials of
the Nigerian government have managed the oil
and gas sector of the economy citing several acts
of corruption.

A source in the Foreign Ministry which pleaded
anonymity said the US is now eager to assist
Buhari turn the situation around, as it has always
considered Nigeria an important ally on the
African continent.

This was as Daily Sun learnt
that several highly placed persons and
multinational companies who attended a recent
US State Department briefing cited corruption as
the main reason for low investment in Nigeria’s
oil sector. Against this background, a source said
the US is backing a senior official of a multi-
national oil company from the Niger Delta who
is conversant with transparency rules to emerge
as the Petroleum Minister.

The source said, “in fact, the multinationals have
discussed with the US State Department and
have already agreed on a credible candidate,
who they believe will be able to restore
confidence and attract the necessary investment
into the critical sector.
Meanwhile sources say
the US has already made this position known to
the incoming administration cautioning the
president-elect against making a wrong choice in
the appointment to the office.

It urged the President to appoint people of
integrity and proven track record into his
cabinet to make the job easier for him.

Already,
top oil and gas industry operators have indicated
their support for the candidate, who they believe
will bring his vast experience to bear in the
turnaround of the Ministry and give credibility
to the sector and the Buhari’s “Change” mantra.
In 2014, Transparency International ranked
Nigeria as the 136th most corrupt country in
the world.

In addition, a US report in March last
year said that in Nigeria, “massive, widespread
and pervasive corruption affected all levels of
government and the security forces,” while
alleging that judges were not left out of the
massive corruption ring, the report accused the
government of not implementing laws on
corruption effectively, thus deliberately allowing
“officials (to) frequently engage in corrupt
practices with impunity.”

These are, possibly, part of what the Speaker of
the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal,
saw when he cried out that the current
administration’s “body language” encouraged
corruption. The US government had also
condemned the pardon granted some ex-
convicts by the National Council of States
headed by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013.

Recall that former Governor of Bayelsa State,
Diepreiye Alamieyeseigha, the former head of the
Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama and some
other Nigerians were granted a presidential
pardon. The US had roundly condemned the act,
saying, “this decision undermines anti-corruption
efforts in Nigeria and encourages impunity.
If
the government is serious about uprooting
public corruption, sanctions against those who
betray the public trust should be strengthened,
not relaxed,” said Akere Muna, Vice-chair of
Transparency International.

And now the US has sounded a note of caution
to President-elect, Buhari, not to bow to
pressure by allowing politicians foster any
candidate for the Petroleum Ministry whose
records are stained or for purpose of satisfying
political patronage.

According to the US, it will send the wrong signal
that business is going to continue as usual, in
which case, the incoming president might not
get the much needed assistance from the US or
any European country for that matter.


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