From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
The Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) has called for immediate investigation into allegations of corrupt practices against the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on petroleum Resources (Downstream), Hon Ugochinyere Ikenga.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the spokesperson, Ali Mohammed Sani, along with the
Convener, Yerima Shettima and the
Secretary General of the Forum, Comrade Danjuma Paul, also called on the leadership of the House to revive the disbanded committee while investigation into the alleged corrupt practices continued.
“We are here to voice our collective concern and demand immediate action regarding the troubling allegations involving Honorable Ugochinyere Ikenga, a member of the House of Representatives on issues which borders on accountability and transparency which are not merely legal requirements; they are moral imperatives essential to the functioning of democracy.
“The recent misconduct alleged against Hon. Ikenga threatens to undermine the trust of the Nigerian populace and its elected officials and the legislative framework that governs our national affairs.
“The Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) in partnership with 72 other organizations stand united to advocate for accountability, transparency, and ethical governance in Nigeria. This is an imperative moment for us, characterized not just by concern, but by urgency, as we gather to address the alarming recent developments concerning the conduct of Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga.
“The allegations against Hon. Ugochinyere Ikenga underscore a disconcerting narrative of exploitation and corruption, which is detrimental to the trust bestowed upon our legislative representatives. In the interest of restoring public confidence and institutional integrity, we implore the Speaker of the House to initiate a comprehensive investigation into these serious allegations, particularly concerning the activities of the disbanded committee.
“The broader implications of such behavior—if left unchecked—pose a significant risk to our democratic foundations and must be addressed with utmost severity.
“We urge all stakeholders to embrace our collective responsibility in this matter. We advocate for a transparent, accountable, and ethical legislative process, one that genuinely serves the Nigerian populace and reinstates faith in our democracy.
“Let us work together for the greater good, ensuring that the actions of our leaders are reflective of the values we espouse as a nation.Let us continue to raise our voices in favour of integrity, accountability, and the principles upon which our democracy is founded.
“The integrity of our democratic institutions is imperative to ensuring that the will of the people prevails. It is the duty of our representatives to act decisively, firmly ensuring that accountability is upheld at all levels. We must collectively strive for a transparent, ethical, and accountable legislative process that ultimately benefits the Nigerian populace.
“As a group, we are committed to uphold the principles of democracy. Our mission is to ensure that those who have been elected to serve the people adhere unwaveringly to their responsibilities. This is because accountability lies at the very heart of a functioning democracy; when representatives err or engage in misconduct, it is the duty of us all to highlight these discrepancies and demand justice,” the NSCF spokesperson said.