The Conference of National Political Parties (CNPP) has expressed its disappointment over the appointment of Chief Anthony Anenih as the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).
Anenih, a former chairman of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party, was re-appointed to the same post he held, before the dissolution of board of federal parastals.
In a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Osita Okechukwu, the CNPP 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 appoint 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 NPA from the days of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur to Bode George has been infested with endemic corruption and 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.
“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.
“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.
“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.
“On the part of Chief Anenih, may we ask, is it not high time any of his children or his followers can ascend to high office in Nigeria through him?
The statement concluded that, “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.
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