Ahead imminent probe by the anti graft agent (EFCC) and the DSS into the bank accounts of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), it’s executives, as well as Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD), a leader in the Union, Comrade Benibo Okorie has urged the General Secretary of NUPENG, Afolabi Olawale to openly declare and publish his asset alongside his bank statements in the last five years.
Okorie said by doing so Afolabi would be seen to have demonstrated his leadership position and role as a trade unionist who is showing discontent for corruption both in character and principles, stressing that such a move will also prove that he had nothing to hide.
The 72 year old PTD leader (Benibo), Sunday morning in a press statement from Port Harcourt, Rivers State made the demand to the General Secretary, he also asked him to encourage the President, Williams Akporeha; the Trustee, Otunba Salimon Akanni Oladiti and the impostor who is being used to illegally manage the affairs of PTD, Augustine Egbon and others to do the same.
Elder Benibo insisted that if the assets were published, it would enable the secret Police, EFCC, and other interested agencies including the Ministry of Labour and Employment who has the absolute right to proscribe the Union if need be, to pass him a vote of confidence. He added it will equally offer privilege to all interested stakeholders, including the general public to scrutinise them and know their worth and how they acquire them.
The Iwhuruọha born tanker driver (Benibo) further pointed out that the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, in Part I of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], stipulates that all public officers are to declare their assets immediately after taking office, at the end of every four years, and the end of their term of office. He said the same should be extended to all trade union leaders to engender accountability and probity.
Benibo also asserted that those who voluntarily seek or occupy public office and are catered for by the public have certain fiduciary duties to be open, transparent, and accountable to the union members who pay check off dues to the union accounts, therefore the details of their assets and financial status must not be hidden.
The elder statesman affirmed that there is an overriding public interest in disclosing information on the assets of NUPENG leaders who are trustees of Union’s wealth and resources especially at a time like this where there is monumental crisis, adding that Union leaders cannot claim that publishing their assets would violate their privacy rights.
His statement read in parts, “The Nigerian constitution and the anti-corruption and human rights treaties show the significant role that asset declaration by public officials or Union leaders plays in promoting transparency, accountability and preventing and combating corruption in the public service.
“NUPENG members and of course Nigerians by extension want to know if Afolabi Olawale the General Secretary of NUPENG is the owner of a multi-billion naira recreation centre in Ikorodu, known as Dream Park at 7, Adeboro Street, Itamaga, they also want to know if he owns a 5-star hotel in Lekki, Lagos State.
“As the General Secretary of NUPENG he also needs to strip himself of any dishonor slammed on him by convincing the world that he doesn’t have a personal house in the USA where his two children are currently staying. Afolabi also needs to put the record straight whether his two children are truly undergraduates in an American University.
“The argument is that he earns a salary that is less than 500,000 naira a month, people are now getting curious on how he was able to acquire such inexplicable wealth within a period of five years in office. Afolabi needs to explain and convince the anti graft bodies and other investigators on this and shock his critics. All eyes are on you as NUPENG is now on the global searchlight for all the bad reasons.
“PTD urges you to emulate a good example of other prominent union leaders and veterans of NUPENG who are known for modesty, discipline and for upholding the enviable and good virtues that union stand for. In some decent clime, by now you would have resigned from office and allowed NUPENG and PTD to breathe and make progress. It is very clear that you have been rejected from all indications.
“Publishing your assets and bank accounts would also send a powerful message of your commitment to uphold the union’s constitutional guarantees and international obligations. It would also show that you are ready to do what is needed to leave a legacy of transparency and accountability. You need to save yourself from international embarrassment as the weeks ahead look very frightening and regrettably, the image of the union is also at stake,” the statement said.
