By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Socialist Party Of Nigeria, (SPN) on Thursday advocated immediate setting up of public probe panel to investigate finances of the successive governments in Oyo State from 1999 till date.
SPN made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Ibadan by its Oyo state Secretary, Comrade Abiodun Bamigboye on the recent re arraignment in court of a former governor of Oyo state , Otunba Adebayo Alao- Akala and two others by the EFCC over an alleged N11.5billion fraud.
According to the party, the special panel should comprise of among others representatives of ” labour, pro-masses organisations, Nigeria Bar Association, etc to conduct a public enquiry to truly probe the revenues and expenditure of the state government and all its agencies.
“We therefore call for special panel that will include democratic representatives of labour, pro-masses organisations, Nigeria Bar Association, etc to conduct a public enquiry to truly probe the revenues and expenditure of the state government and agencies in the last 19 years of civil rule so as to reveal the real depth of corruption among thieving elites often masquerade as politicians and business men and women in the state.” it said
SPN lamented that ” for over years, contract system has been a fraudulent mean through which capitalist politicians irrespective of political party affiliations often use to award public money to themselves and their acolytes who usually masquerade as business men and women.’
“To us in SPN this revelation is not surprising. This is because for over years, contract system has been a fraudulent mean through which capitalist politicians irrespective of political party affiliations often use to award public money to themselves and their acolytes who usually masquerade as business men and women. This is why we of the SPN often call for the complete abolition of contract system while we advocate a public work system placed under a democratic control and management of a committee made up of the elected representatives of workers, consumers and the community.”
The party stressed that it has been revealed that ” development projects handled by public work department are tend to be cheaper and durable and give little or no room for corruption such as inflation of contract which is often the trademark under the current prevailing contract system”, and that “unfortunately, this kind of public work system under the democratic control of the elected representative of the working people can never be permitted under the current and prevailing capitalist system of exploitation and corruption.”
SPN noted in the statement that “this means that beyond sharing the anguish and anger of ordinary Nigerians against this kind of capitalist looting, priority must largely be given to the task of socialist transformation of the Nigeria economy and state. This is because only a socialist system of government in which the commanding height of the economy will be collectively owned and placed under a democratic management and control of the elected representative of the working people that is capable of ending this current prevailing regime of corruption and mismanagement of public resources among members of the political class.”
The party emphasized that “except this is done, arraignment and re-arraignment of any person like that of Otunba Alao Akala and other two individuals re-arraigned alongside of him by the EFCC will ultimately come to nothing. Even if the case is ever concluded, the accused will be most likely set free. Should the accused subsequently tried and found guilty and sentenced to jail for life or even executed as argued by some, this cannot ever fully atone for the mass misery and agonies inflicted on the poor masses who are the victims of their looting. It is in this vein, SPN holds that the re-arraignment could be a ploy to sacrifice some disposable politicians with a view to give credence to the false impression that APC-led government is still committed to its acclaimed war against corruption campaign.”
