Oshiomhole query Fed Govt for oil theft

Oshiomhole query Fed Govt for oil theft

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to ask questions from the Federal Government on how hundreds of barrels of crude oil are stolen without check on a daily basis.

Oshiomhole, who said this at the groundbreaking of the Labour House in Benin City, said Nigeria was being run in a directionless manner.

The labour movement, he said, must show more interest in the national discourse so that the ship of state could be steered in the right direction.

According to him, “issues of the management of the treasury and oil theft are not the preserve of the political class. Oil is being stolen. Nigeria has a capacity for 2.5 million barrels a day.  We have oil performing on an average of $108 a barrel over the past few years. It hovered on that average. Sometimes, it went to $111 and at a time, it dropped to $106 per barrel.

“Oil performance has been stable and we budget at $98, with the difference over a period of three years. We ought to have huge reserves now, so that when occasion as this comes, we will live as if there is no fluctuation.

“But while this was going on, we suddenly heard of crude oil theft. Sometimes, about 700 barrels per day are allegedly stolen. Seven hundred barrels per day, these are big vessels.”

Oshiomhole added: “I think the NLC needs to show more interest in this politics of oil theft. Who are the people stealing this oil? Since when? What has changed about the territorial boundaries of Nigeria? In good times, we were told this thing is being stolen and in bad times, we are told to fasten our belt. I feel strongly about those things.

“We have always been hearing about illegal bunkering, but we have never heard of this level of massive oil theft.

“Someone has a duty to explain that and NLC has a duty to ask. In Edo, we are clear we are deepening our taxes and we need the NLC to support us. The state had been held hostage by few unaccountable godfathers in the name of politics which people can see. Government property was sold for as low as one million naira in GRA land with house on it.”

Emphasising the need to sustain the struggle for the good of the nation, the governor said: “We cannot have a country where people just feast on others and they think it is their birthright to continue to feast.”

On the rationale for the Labour House, Oshiomhole said: “I offered to build this house for the labour movement in Edo State because no man is free if he does not live in his own house. I believe it is more valid for a trade union movement because of the kind of work it does.

“You hire a house and it turns out that house belongs to a politician, whose party is government and you are issuing ultimatum against that party. The first thing they will do is to ask you to vacate the property. I believe that God has a purpose that at this time of our history, he chooses to make me the governor of this state against all odds.”

On his part, the NLC National President, who was represented by the Deputy President, Comrade Sidi Mohammed, said Oshiomhole had done the NLC proud as a former president and as governor.

“We cannot forget the sacrifice you made in the labour movement. And for those who accuse you today, they should have known that without the labour force, there would not have been democracy today. You led us in the struggle; we slept in the bush and we were beaten. And today, they are reaping what we built. Yet, they call us names,” he said.

The National President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Bobbol Kaigama, expressed delight that trade union movement opened  2015 on a progressive note.

He said the groundbreaking ceremony for the twin buildings as the councils’ state secretariat was laudable.

Kaigama said: “For now, we commend your foresight in charting a progressive people-oriented course for comrades involved in politics. Indeed, yours has been a success story worthy of emulation.”