A non-governmental Organization, the Northern Ethnic Group Assembly, has supported Senate’s probe of the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
In a statement by the spokesperson of the NGO, Ibrahim Dan-Musa, made available to the press on Sunday in Abuja, NEYGA opined that there is need for public knowledge if there are misdeeds in the company.
The group hinted that the petition to the senate by some traditional rulers kicking against the probe bid did not represent the interest of Kogi, according to Peoples Gazette.
Dan-Musa recalled that Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (PDP/Kogi Central), recently moved a motion urging the senate to investigate alleged corruption and inefficiency at ASC and National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe.
He quoted the lawmaker as seeking an investigation into the $496 million allegedly paid to a supposed handler of the moribund outfit, by the federal government in September 2022, reportedly to ward off contractual disputes.
He maintained that the petition to stop the probe was jointly signed by five traditional rulers in the central senatorial district.
According to him, the chiefs accused the lawmaker of acting in isolation and without the input of critical stakeholders in the senatorial district.
They also claimed that the senator’s motion was an “unwarranted public outcry”.
Mr Dan-Musa said the traditional rulers contended that making fundamental decisions without consultations with them would amount to burning the bridge of democratic principles.
Reacting to the petition, the NEYGA’s spokesman said that the traditional rulers were not empowered to decide on issues that concerned the state and Nigeria as a whole.
“No one should stand in the way of truth. No one should issue petitions when we want to get to the truth as to why these critical projects are not working and serving their purpose
“If there have been misdeeds, we need to know. That should not hurt anyone,” the group added.
