Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that more than 80% of Nigeria’s crude oil is stolen.
This was disclosed during the launch of Dr. Umar Ardo’s book, ‘Court and Politics,’ in Abuja.
Obasanjo, represented by Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger State, emphasized that Nigeria’s economy suffers due to unaccounted-for oil production, unlike other oil-producing nations that maintain transparent records.
He noted crude oil theft as a major contributor to Nigeria’s economic downturn, noting that out of the approximate daily quota of two million barrels, over 1.7 million are stolen.
Regarding Nigeria’s governance system, Obasanjo defended the presidential system, attributing the country’s challenges to a lack of adherence to rules rather than the system itself.
Meanwhile, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, former Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum and ex-Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, criticized Nigeria’s leadership, describing it as a failure.
He advocated for rescuing the country from its leadership deficit and emphasized the importance of fostering a proper political culture, recognizing that no governance system is flawless.
Abdullahi said, “Enough of our failures. Something else must give way to our failures. We have failed this country. This must stop.”Top of Form
Abdullahi said, “Enough of our failures. Something else must give way to our failures. We have failed this country. This must stop.”
He said, “Time has come for us to go back to the drawing boards to rescue this country.”
The ex-chairman of the NEF expressed sorrow over Nigeria’s challenge in producing only 4,000 megawatts of power despite its population exceeding 200 million.
According to him, “Enough is enough of our failure; we must agree that we failed enough.
“I visited Dantata and he was very angry with me, saying the people of the North have failed the North and Nigeria. Until the North accepts that they have failed the North and sit together to discuss the way forward, there won’t be progress.
“We gathered in 1978 when we wanted to return to civilian rule. We were to discuss why the system of 1961 failed but we were shocked when they said the parliamentary system of government was not going to be discussed and that we should go for the federal system of government.
“And they gave us two options: that of the French and America. And now we have practised the presidential system for 24 years and it has failed and I will score it F9.
“Time has come for us to go back to the drawing board so that we can save this country,” Abdullahi said.
(Vanguard)