Urhobo group knocks Kogi traditional rulers over Ajaokuta probe

The group under the Urhobo Progressive and Development Union (UPDU) of South-South Nigeria has described a move by some traditional rulers in Kogi seeking to stop the probe of Ajaokuta Steel Company as “shameful act”.

Recall the lawmaker representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, had moved a motion to investigate alleged corruption and inefficiency at the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASL) and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) located in Kogi, respectively.

Senator Natasha, in her motion, urged the Senate to investigate the affairs of Ajaokuta Steel and NIOMCO between 2008 and February 2024; and afterwards, put in place an adequate governing board for the company headed by an experienced Managing Director.

The petition by the monarchs was jointly signed by the five district rulers in the Central Senatorial District, namely, HRH Mohammed Bello (Ohi of Adavi), HRH Musa Isah Achuja (Ohi of Eganyi), HRH Ahmed Abdulraheem (Ohi of Ihima), HRH Umar Opewu (Ohi of Eika), and HRH Isah Mamman (Ohi of Okene).

The monarchs accused the lawmaker of acting in isolation and without the input of critical stakeholders in the Senatorial district, stating that her motion was an “unwarranted public outcry.”

The petition written to the Nigeria Senate by Ebira Traditional Rulers to stop Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha, from investigating Ajaokuta Steel Company and the National Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO) alleged payment of $496 million to contractors in September 2022 by the former Central Bank Governor, Godswill Emefele, as shameful and disgraceful.

The leader of the group, Comrade Ogheneruno Oghenetega, in a statement, labeled the petition as shameful, saying that Northern leaders are always desperate to probe oil companies in the South East, but they don’t want to probe Ajaokuta Steel.

“It is shameful that the Northern region is trying to protect corruption. This is not acceptable here, and the Northern region should take a cue from the South-South region that always cooperates with the National Assembly members, EFCC, ICPC, and anti-corruption bodies on any assignments for national interest.

Oghenetega said: “The Northern leaders, who are desperate to probe oil companies and organisations like the Niger Delta Development Commission, are now calling the same government not to probe the only company they have in Northern Nigeria, Ajaokuta Steel Company.”

The group also advises the Northern Traditional rulers not to protect corrupt aristocrats in their midst, as the job of rebuilding Nigeria can’t solely depend on the oil from the Niger Delta alone, but their contribution will help.

“Ajaokuta Steel Company was built with the money from oil in the Niger-Delta, hence knowing what happened there and what is happening there means a lot to Niger Deltans and Nigerians at large.”