Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka and the Save Nigeria Group (SNG) have stated their resolve to mobilise the people for mass protests if government fails to act on the probe panel reports conducted by the House of Representatives Ad hoc committee on the petroleum sector.
Speaking at a press conference organised by the SNG, Soyinka urged the people to put an end to what he called official insensitivity by coming out en mass to partake in a protest that would take place should government fails to take concrete steps to prosecute those liable in the scam.
Along with the SNG, the Nobel Laureate gave the Federal Government a two-week ultimatum to take concrete steps regarding prosecution of all those found liable in the outcome of the oil subsidy probe or risk another round of mass protests by the people.
Making his first comments since the Hon Farouk Lawal-led committee submitted its reports, which was subsequently adopted with minor adjustment, Soyinka lamented that series of news relating to official graft in the country have done more harm than good to its image.
Describing the revelation of the committee as reflective of official insensitivity and sheer excesses, Soyinka wondered why government have remained muted to all the allegations contained, saying such attitude is reflective of how government officials perceived the people as second class citizens.
“We have a situation where we (Nigerians) have become object of ridicule to the whole world. From the commentaries (by foreigners) on our nation, the humiliation we get from foreigners is too excessive,” the Nobel Laureate said, further maintaining that, “I think it is wrong that some of us have to bear the burden of things done by some other people.”
As a way out of the quagmire, he urged the people of the country to take their destiny in their hands, saying, “Nigerians must be prepared to act, must be prepared to come out en mass and demand the termination of this career of insolence. This money that is being stolen belongs to the people of Nigeria.”
While commending the Federal House of Representatives for what it termed ‘painstaking consideration and adoption of the report, the Convener of SNG, Pastor Tunde Bakare said the actions have served as a redemptive gesture to the people from the Assembly which he said has not done much for the people since 1999.
Reacting to the outcome in an eight-page text titled, “Kleptocracy Unlimited,” Bakare said, “The recent external auditors’ reports on the accounts of the political parties for the year 2010 released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) revealed that the PDP could not give its accounts.”