The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani has alleged that the award of N48 billion surveillance contract to an ex-militant, Mr Government Ekpemupolo (popularly known as Tompolo) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), will promote criminality.
Rafsanjani, in a statement made available to ASHENEWS on Monday, referred to Tompolo’s past criminal records, his troubles with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the years and questioned the integrity of the NNPC Ltd for ignoring his past records before awarding him the contract.
“What is the value of the investments and allocations made from the national treasury to the numerous security paraphernalia in Nigeria if an EX-militant is seen to be more competent to deliver on security issues than the entire armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Who over-sighted the procurement process of this award, were there bids, and what process led to his emergence on this award, or is our bureau of public procurement also an incompetent institution that couldn’t deliver on a free and equitable process? On the other doesn’t the law have clear stipulations on contract awards in Nigeria?” Rafsanjani said.
According to him, rival groups’ were right to blame the government for failing to make consultations before awarding the contract to Tompolo as well as their threats to sabotage the execution of the contract if not properly executed.
Rafsanjani asked if the NNPC was “still an agency of government given a contract on behalf of the government or a commercial entity that should be running their cost based on performance and have their operation approved by the governing board of that establishment?
“It is really sad that the Nigerian government is promoting criminality. Because what they have practically done is encourage criminality. So, criminals can take arms against the state and they can now rubbish our own security; the police, navy, army, and DSS meaning all of them cannot secure the country or the oil pipelines. One day, the Nigerian government will come and hire terrorists to guide us, this is really terrible,” the CISLAC boss further stated.
Given the promises by Buhari’s APC administration in 2015, Rafsanjani said there is still time for President Muhammadu Buhari to redeem such promises by making measurable impact and decision that is just, fair, and civil for the greater good of Nigeria.
