Beyond The Kokoma Dance …Who Ordered Sale Of $5.3bn NIPP Goods?

Since the two chambers of the Nigerian National Assembly, commenced inquiries into the laughable sales of 17 containers load of hi-tech electrical equipment valued at a whopping $5.3billion, early this month, the much tax-payers have been treated to are the less pleasurable steps of Kokoma Dance. Like its Western ballroom kind, this type was very popular after the Civil War uptill the late 70’s backwards without necessarily exiting the dance arena.

But it was later considered less fanciful to other more athletic dance forms like the legendary Pop King, Michael Jackson’s Moon Walk, MC Hammer’s Dancehall steps and on Nigerian soil the admixture of highlife and pioru introduced to afro-funk by the duo of Daddy Sokey and Baba Frio of the Denge Pose music genre.

That is why it’s most amusing that a serious issue as the auctioning of 17 containers of electrical equipment meant for the establishment of power plants to increase supply to the Federal Government’s national electrification programme, should attract answers from key players that smacks off Kokoma , one step forward, two backwards.

The facts of the case are simple. As far back as 2007, government placed order for the purchase of electrical equipment at a cost of $5.3billion and which arrived the country in 17 large containers. But rather than clear such goods belonging to the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), they were left at the ports till 2009 when they were allegedly auctioned.

Now, the questions to which both the Senate and the House of Representatives along with other Nigerians seek urgent answers are: Why? Who sold the goods and to whom? Why? Who authorised the sales? Why? Who was expected to clear the  goods but didn’t? Why? Now, where are the goods? Why so? There are simple questions the Nigerian Customs Service, officials of the NIPP, PHCN and the Ministry charged with the purchase of such goods should provide simple answers to.

For that purpose, the National Assembly had invited all concerned to explain their roles in the scam but the outcome has been everything but honourable. Yet, all concerned are supposedly, honourable men.

First, who auctioned the goods? The auctioneer? To this question alone, there are two different answers from two different key players. Managing Director of the NIPP, Mr John Olotu who indeed blew the lid off the scam, had in a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP),Mr Afiz Ringim alleged that the equipment were sold to one auctioneer who lived at No 6 Godwin Lane, Woji, Port Harcourt in Rivers State, But who is he?

On his part, Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr A. J. Atte who stood in for his boss, Mr Inde Dikko Abdullahi, said to be in Vietnam for training stated that the buyer of the containers was one Johnson Adewusi of 17 Herbert Macaulay Way, Lagos on April 20, 2009.

Now, were the 17 containers bought by the same Adewusi of 17 Herbert Macaulay or the unknown auctioneer of Woji  in Port Harcourt? Or is it the same auctioneer using two different addresses in Lagos and Port Harcourt?

However, in Olotu’s petition which was read by the Senate Committee Chairman on Power, Senator Philip Aduda last week Tuesday, the inquiry heard that the goods which were allegedly purchased at US$5.3billion were sold at  give-away prices.

But why did it take the NIPP boss uptill now to blow up the lid of a scam perpetrated since 2009? What did he do to bring the action to the court of public opinion as he has done now? What else is he not telling us?

Not amused by the lack of answers to many more questions, the Senate Committee had last Tuesday, given the Customs seven days, within which to retrieve all the 17 containers, it was believed to have auctioned.

But this appears most unlikely, even as  the deadline expires tomorrow, in view of allusions made by the Deputy Comptroller-General, when he took his turn before the Senate Committee same day. In his account, Mr Atte had on behalf of his boss told the hearing, “ no man in his sanity would go and auction government’s property of the magnitude and importance of power plant equipment without express permission of Mr President and Commander – In –Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces”.

If by Mr President, Atte means, the incumbent, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan then, the Presidency  needs to tell Nigerians why? But if approval was given before his tenure, President Jonathan needs to ask the right questions now and give Nigerians all the answers.

While Nigerians await that outcome, it is important that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, explains to Nigerians why the containers containing such vital national needs like power, not second hand clothes, should be abandoned in the ports for three years until they were sold in 2009

In giving the directive, the Senate Committee Chairman described as irresponsible and frustrating, the attitude of (some) government’s establishments and directed all key players in the scam to forward names and ranks of those involved in the illicit sales, for necessary sanctions. The Committee also directed all relevant departments to meet and brainstorm over pending containers at the country’s various ports and articulate relevant solutions on how to clear them in good time to avoid repeat of auctioning of the equipment.

The question is what happens to the Customs and other accomplices  at the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given them by the Senate to retrieve all the sold equipment? As usual, will Nigerians simply look the other way and pray, not again?

It is indeed a national disgrace, that sensitive as electricity power needs are to Nigeria and Nigerians, to manufacturing concerns and attendant job creation initiatives, to healthcare, education, industry and commerce among  all others, that equipment valued at 5.3billion dollars, about N821.5 billion should be wasted the way it has.

Even more unacceptable is the fact that until these inquiries by the National Assembly, the facts were kept a guarded secret as if the items sold were sour grapes smuggled into the country as contraband. And to think that the equipment would not have boosted electricity supply and save government all the negative comments about unseriousness on matters that directly touch the citizenry is most unfortunate.

This is why Dr Okonji-Iweala as Finance Minister must tell Nigerians what went wrong, even if she might not have been directly responsible at the time. But government is a continuum and so it behoves her to ask the right questions and tell Nigerians what they need to know about the saga.

But I have a worry. The Senate’s ultimatum to Customs to retrieve the sold goods was widely publicised since last Wednesday, just as the Customs’ claim that auctioning the containers was duly authorised by Mr President and Commander-In-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

That being the case, why has the Presidency kept mum? Does this silence mean consent to the allegation? I hope not because if it turns out to be so, it will even be more unfortunate considering the fact that power has since the commencement of the Yar’Adua/Jonathan presidency been an ample part of the seven-point agenda.

And to allow such over sight, either by omission or commission would be a disservice to the land and the people’s hope of a better Nigeria under President Jonathan’s watch.

Mr Agony is that auctioned goods are like the wings of a butterfly, once touched, they never remain the same. The option? All those found culpable on the long run should be made to reproduce the sold items or replace them. Period. No more, no less.

Soye Wilson Jamabo