Tambuwal blows hot in Calabar, says FG, NNPC ripping off states

Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal has accused the federal government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of fleecing states.

Condemning the “secrecy, lack of transparency and impunity” in the handling of the country’s oil earnings, he lamented that the NNPC has constituted itself into a government of its own and operates as if it was not accountable to anyone.

Tambuwal spoke in Calabar on Sunday during a visit to Governor Ben Ayade as part of consultations ahead of the PDP presidential primaries.

“The states are continually shortchanged by the Federal Government and NNPC.

“But all that will change when I’m elected president because I will take on the issues of secrecy in NNPC accounting system and ensure that there is transparency, fiscal discipline so that Nigerians know the true state of things in the corporation’s operations in terms of the revenue accruable to the nation.”

The presidential hopeful further assured that more power will be devolved to states under his government.

“The issue of reviewing revenue allocation formula is key to the development of the nation.

“The states need more funding in order to bring more meaningful development to the people across the nation.

“So, we will work hard to do this by making sure that the states get their fair share of allocation.

“By the Grace of God, I guarantee that we shall assemble team of competent Nigerians from all parts of the Federation to serve our fatherland and also go out there and restore our dignity in the comity of nations,” he said.

Speaking, Ayade hailed Tambuwal for his “humility and strength of character”, which he said, work for him and endear him to people across ethnic, religious, political and social divides.

The governor said that should Tambuwal address the accounting NNPC problems, “he must have solved 60 per cent of Nigeria’s problems”.