The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) on Sunday condemned the appointment of former Work Minister, Tony Anenih, as the chairman of the board of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
In a statement signed by its spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, the Conference said Mr Anenih’s appointment was “an insult to Nigerians and endorsement of corruption.”
The statement also said “whereas, President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, has the powers by the virtue of the powers conferred on him by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to delegate or appointment anybody to office; however we view the appointment of Chief Anthony Anenih to chair the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Ports Authority {NPA} as an insult to Nigerians and utter endorsement of corruption.”
The CNPP said the Ports Authority had been infested in “endemic corruption,” since the days of two PDP leaders- Bamaga Tukur and Bode George- as its head.
“Recently the House of Representatives accused the NPA of diverting N160 billion of revenue supposed to be remitted to the Federation Account, in accordance with Section 162 of the Constitution,” the CNPP said.
“For the endemic corruption in NPA, we are alarmed that President Jonathan instead of nominating a credible, transparent and maritime professional to clean the Augean Stable in the rotten Nigeria Port Authority; has wittingly insulted the intelligence of Nigerians by appointing Chief Anenih whose notoriety in public office is legendary,” Mr Okechukwu said.
The CNPP said Mr Anenih failed woefully as Minister of Works.
“We are yet to locate any of the federal roads awarded with billions by Chief Anenih as Minister of Works from 1999 which was completed in the more than three years he held sway in the ministry.
“In fact, Agege-Ota-Abeokuta, Owerri-Onitsha, Ilorin-Ibadan, Gombe-Maiduguri, Kano-Maiduguri, Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos-Benin etc, are still uncompleted, despite the unprecedented oil revenue which governed the budget process, an unfortunate foundation laid by the Chief,” the group stated.
The groups cast aspersions on President Jonathan’s credibility saying, “We had thought that President Jonathan will be making strenuous efforts to erase the epitaph of graduating into the most corrupt regime in the annals of Nigerian history by distancing himself from less than transparent characters like Chief Anenih”.
“In sum, it is our candid view that a true Transformation Agenda must be anchored on the beacon of transparency, accountability and public good; not on self – preservation and endorsement of corruption,” Mr Okechukwu said.
