Graft at all-time high in Nigeria, says BuhariHE must be sounding like a broken record now, at least to those benefiting from the sleazy status quo. But then, former Military Head of State and Presidential candidate, Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Gen Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday in Lokoja, Kogi State, again lamented that corruption has attained 'a frightening height' in the country and that 'only God can now deliver' the nation from the fatal clutches of graft.Buhari also charged Nigerians to ask former President Olusegun Obasanjo to account for monies accruable to the country when he was at the helm of affairs.The former Head of State made the call at the grand-finale of campaign by the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) governorship candidate in Kogi, James Enejo Ocholi (SAN) at the Lokoja Township Stadium.He alleged that the money made by the country under Obasanjo was more than what the nation got between 1914 and 2011.Buhari, who also lamented the deplorable state of infrastructure in the country, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be blamed for the woes that have befallen the nation, stressing that billions of naira were being wasted in the country while young Nigerians roamed the streets jobless.Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday formally re-launched the use of cassava flour for bread production, saying that the Federal Government would soon roll out incentives to support firms using cassava in their manufacturing processes.Also, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a memo by the Minister of Finance for Nigeria to contribute a total of 76,538,000.00 units of shares over a period of three years (2011 to 2015) to the second Capital Replenishment for the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EIBD).The Council also approved the procurement of one Bell Search and Rescue helicopter, which would be configured with Emergency Medical Ambulance Services equipment for the use of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).And, the Senate yesterday deferred its final decision on the recommendations of its panel that investigated the activities of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) from 1999 to date.In its report to the chamber, the Senator Ahmed Lawan-led panel alleged presidential interference in the transactions carried out under the administration of Obasanjo.In his contribution to the debate on the report yesterday, Senator Kabir Gaya (Kano South) observed that the Senate had conducted similar exercises in the past, with the reports ending in a trashcan.On his part, Senator Abu Ibrahim (Katsina South) said: 'The report is comprehensive and decisive. I am worried that the main culprit who signed these documents has been left out.'Senator Olubunmi Adetumbi (Ekiti North) submitted that 'those who issued directives during the process that has been adjudged to be a failure should be held responsible and not the civil servants.'Deputy Leader of the Senate, Abdul Ningi, said the report offered an opportunity to trash issues that arose from the privatisation exercise.Senator Smart Adeyemi (Kogi West) commended the panel and expressed displeasure over the manner national assets had been handled by some of the investors.Suleiman Adokwe (Nasarawa South) asked the executive to muster the courage needed to implement the report.Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi Central) called for caution in the handling of the report.Senator Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa West) stated that the privatisation exercise had not achieved the desired result.But Senator Andy Uba (Anambra South) argued that the privatisation exercise was not a failure and should not be condemned 'in its entirety.'Senator Olusola Adeyeye (Osun Central) said: ''As I went through the report, I was shocked that many of the companies were performing far below expectations. In my view, if you have a company in which you invested money and year after year, you get no returns, you either take a bow or sell it to whoever is foolish enough to buy it from you.Senator Pius Ewheredo (Delta Central) said: 'I pray that the Senate will have the courage to see that the recommendations are implemented as passed.
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