Speaking in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally, President Muhammadu Buhari said he will probe the $16 billion spent on the failed power project by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
President Buhari who was received by the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, while addressing the crowd reiterated his resolve to do everything possible, recover the money and uncover those behind the scam.
Although he did not mention Obasanjo, Buhari said: “The previous government mentioned on their own that they spent $16billion on power, but you are better witnesses than myself; where is the power? Where is the money? We will follow them; eventually, God willing, we will catch them and get our money back.”
Between the periods of 1999 and 2007, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power, the Federal Government was reported to have spent N16 billion on power projects, obviously the tagged scam President Buhari made reference to.
However, the media aide to former President Obasanjo, Kehinde Akinyemi, while speaking on this said his boss is ready for the probe and would make himself available as well anytime.
“It is no more news. We are already expecting that. Since last year, Baba (Obasanjo) had said he would make himself available for the probe.” Akinyemi said.
The media aide to the former President further said a statement had been issued earlier in 2018 where Obasanjo made known his readiness for the probe.
Also speaking on this, a former aide to the former President, Mr Akin Osuntokun, said Obasanjo had proffered answers to the alleged scam via his written book and had also volunteered information about the issue to the National Assembly and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“President Obasanjo has written about this issue. He had volunteered information to the National Assembly and all that. Buhari is busy wining and dining with those being investigated by the EFCC, claiming that their sins had been forgiven.” Osuntokun said.
