The immediate past president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, are set to appear before the House of Representatives Committee probing the contracts in the power sector.
THISDAY learnt that Obasanjo has resolved to appear before the panel in order to clear his name.
Atiku conveyed his readiness to appear before the panel through a letter to the Chairman of the House Committee on Power and Steel, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, dated May 7, 2008 and signed on his behalf by Abdullahi Nyanko.
The committee had summoned Obasanjo and Atiku to appear before it on Monday, May 12, 2008 on their roles in the execution of projects in the power sector from 1999 to 2007.
A source close to Obasanjo said contrary to entreaties by some people, that the former president should not appear, he would present himself before the committee in order to set the record straight over the power project.
The source said Obasanjo had set a precedent by appearing before a similar probe panel namely the Human Rights Violations Investigation Panel also known as Oputa Panel, which he set up when he was president to look at past human rights abuses.
�He set up the Oputa Panel and demonstrated to other leaders why they should appear by appearing before the panel. So, why will he not appear now?� the source asked rhetorically.
On his part, the former vice-president said though he was at present outside the country, he would endeavour to keep the appointment with the committee on May 12, 2008.
In the letter, Atiku, however, said he had nothing to offer to the committee on the subject in question.
The letter from Atiku read: �Re: Invitation to Appear at the Public Hearing on The Power Sector. I have been directed by the former vice-president, H.E. Atiku Abubakar, GCON, to acknowledge receipt of your letter with reference number HR3/CT.47/26/Vol. 1/104 dated 3rd May 2008 and received on 6th May 2008.
�Although the former vice-president has maintained that he has little or nothing to offer on the subject of the public hearing, he would still appear before the Committee as requested as a mark of respect for the legislature.
�H.E. Atiku Abubakar who is currently out of the country on some private engagements, has commenced the process of securing an early booking to enable him arrive the country before Monday 12th May, 2008.
Please accept the assurances of the former vice-president�s high regards, please.�
The House committee had summoned Obasanjo and Atiku after its 10-day investigative hearing and a tour of power projects around the country.
The duo are expected to appear before the committee on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 10 am in the Conference Hall of the new building of the House of Representatives.
The invitation to appear was dispatched to the former president at his Obasanjo Farm, 30 Idiroko/Owode Road, Ogun State, last Monday through DHL, while Atiku’s letter was delivered also on Monday at his 18 Oba Akenzua Street residence in Abuja.
Former minister of Finance, Mrs. Nenadi Usman�s letter was sent to her 5b Shehu Yar�Adua Close, Off Sultan Road, and Angwa Rimi, Kaduna residence.
Former Senate Presidents, Senators Adolphus Wabara, Anyim Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani, the two former Speakers of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ghali Umar Na�Abba and Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, though not officially invited, all volunteered to appear same day to face Obasanjo in case he names them in his testimony.
In the letter with ref HR3/CT.47/26/Vol.1/103 dated May 3, entitled �Invitation to Appear at the Public Hearing on the Power Sector� and signed by the Clerk of the Committee, Mallam S.Y Ahmed wrote: �The House committee on Power and Steel was mandated by the House of Representatives vide resolution No HR/07/2008, to carry out a thorough investigation and conduct a Public Hearing into how huge sums of money was [were] expended in the power sector from 1999 to 2007 without commensurate result.
�In carrying out this mandate, the committee has conducted a Public Hearing where oral testimonies were made by stakeholders, from the public and private sectors.
�In the course of the hearing, a lot of allegations and counter allegations were made. References were also made to approvals and directives alleged to have been given by Your Excellency as the then President of Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as in your capacity as chairman of the Federal Executive Council.
�The decision to extend an invitation to you was taken on Tuesday April 22, when the members unanimously resolved that before submitting its report, it is appropriate to give you fair hearing by inviting you to come and give an insight and perspective into what you know or your role in the execution of projects in the Power Sector from 1999 to 2007.
�While thanking Your Excellency for honouring this invitation, please accept the assurances of the Committees� highest regards.�
Chairman of the Committee, Elumelu, who confirmed the authenticity of the letter to THISDAY had said: �I think we are getting close to the end of the tour and there is the need to get the people we have invited for our final lap.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, House Committee on Power, Elumelu, has said that there is no hiding place for any person or group of persons found culpable in the ongoing investigations in the power sector as they would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
Speaking during the courtesy call of the Committee on the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, in Ilorin on Tuesday, Elumelu said that four electricity sub-transmission power stations were actually allotted to Kwara State to boost power supply but unfortunately, the state was shortchanged in the execution of the projects under the National Independent Power Project.
According to him, “The situation of power supply in the country has portrayed the nation in a bad light and this would be investigated in order to bring the culprit to book.”
The Chairman of the Committee said that instead of four, only one of such projects was at present under construction at Ganmo in the state.
He added that the committee was currently on an inspection tour of power project sites across the country as part of its inquiry into how the administration of the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, spent a reported $16 billion on the power projects. Elumelu, who frowned on the attitude of the contractors, explained that they have yet to commence work despite the fact that they had since been mobilised with N3.3 billion out of the total contract sum of N4.1 billion.
He also decried the attitude of some government officials and contractors whom he said were diverting scarce national resources and causing untold hardship for the people ofNigeria.
Earlier, Saraki had said that the problem of power supply was the handiwork of unscrupulous and greedy Nigerians.
While canvassing for the strict penalty for perpetrators of corruption in the power sector, Saraki said that adherence to due process in the award of contracts, persistent supervision and inspection by all stakeholders would assist in checking fund, diversion and non execution of projects in the country.
Commending the efforts of the committee on its journey so far in their power investigations, Saraki said that he had been supervising the power project at Ganmo and it is almost 70 per cent completed.
May82008