Traditional rulers, under the aegis of the Association of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, have called on the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to investigate the missing $20 billion Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) fund to ensure that those behind the shady deal were brought to book.
Its National President, His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Thomas Obiefule, who addressed reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, noted that the outgoing administration of President Goodluck Jonathan was not firm in the fight against corruption, advising that the Buhari’s administration should fight corruption headlong.
Eze Obiefule, who is also the traditional ruler of Umudioka kingdom in Orlu Council Area of Imo State, observed that “when Buhari became the Head of State in 1984, the naira was at par with the dollar”.
“In that respect, we are believing that his administration will better the economy of the state and put an end to corruption,” the traditional ruler said.
He added that Jonathan’s administration was ruined by sycophants and aides with questionable backgrounds, noting:”If Buhari wants to succeed, he should do away with sycophants and praise-singers and concentrate in rebuilding the nation so as not to disappoint millions of Nigerians that stood for change”.
According to him, “after our emergency meeting, we have congratulated the President-elect and the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, especially Ogbonnaya Onu, John Sagaya and Babagana Kingibe, among others, and we urge Nigerians to rally round the incoming administration for effective results.
“We are disturbed by the alarming rate of corruption in the country. It is simply unacceptable to us that as an oil producing nation, we still import oil products while our refineries lie in ruins. We want the Buhari administration to address the rot in the oil sector and the power sector.
The monarch, however, called for specific roles for traditional rulers in the constitution.