Oil Industry: It Is Hard To Be Honest-Ribadu

 

Nuhu Ribadu

Nuhu Ribadu, on Friday wept openly at the Presidential Villa.
Ribadu who was speaking with state House Correspondents after the presentation of the Presidential Task Force on revenue in the petroleum industry report , said the committee was subjected to pressure from different quarters in the course of doing their assignment.
 reacting to the probity and accountability in operations of the Petroleum Industry, he disclosed that those who spearheaded the rift did not mean well for the country.
when asked to comment on allegations of faulty procedure by Steve Orosanye and Bernard Otti who are both members of the committee, he said that Orosanye and Otti “had been compromised” adding that they even refused to attend any of their meetings despite several invitations.
“I weep for Nigeria”
He however dismissed their claims, saying that all other members of the committee have been speaking with “one Voice”.
“well you have seen it. There are only two of them. All the other members spoke with one voice. We are one. We stood on what we believed is the right thing and we have given the report as one committee. Two people who unfortunately have already been compromised by being given public appointment in that same industry are the ones who are trying to cause the confusion.”
Also speaking on the allegations that different copies of the reports were being circulated, he debunked the claims adding that what we have been circulated is the same as what was submitted Friday .
“There is no any difference and you can see clearly what happened, we work for our country and we work for our people and stand by what is the truth. Nothing can change that. What we said is exactly what we have produced.”
“Some of the things that has been going on in the last one week or so, show that when you are working with a group of people, so many people are involved, so you may not be able o control all the outcome. Possibility of leakage is there. But from what we have today, you can see the authenticity of the reports itself. Go to the report that we have given, it is the same thing. No change”
He revealed that the committee faced several challenges in the course of carrying out their assignment.
“There were so many, but like the President has said, this is the oil industry, it is not easy for you to do an honest work when it comes to money like this but we did to the best of our ability. We said the truth and the truth will always remain the truth and it will set you free if you have the courage to go ahead with what is the truth”