November 15 , 2007

 

PRESS STATEMENT

 

$400 BILLION:LOST AND FOUND

  'I vow before you this day that as president of this country,

   I will lead the fight against corruption.

   The fight against corruption is my fight.'

   ---President Umaru Musa Yaradua.

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties{CNPP},challenges President Umaru Musa Yaradua, to execute the proclaimation he made -' the fight against corruption is my fight'.This challenge is born out of litany of broken promises since the inception of his regime and most importantly the Constitution of our dear country, which he swore to upheld, commands the president under section15, to abolish corruption.

President Yaradua, has no excuse and does not need to search aimlessly for the looted funds, when no other person, but the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime{UNODC},Executive Director, Dr Antonio Maria Costa, who unvieled the Nigeria corruption index. We do not know any other person on earth, who is more qualified or has a better knowledge of the rape of Nigeria, than Dr Costa.

It is also refreshing to note that from the UNODC record, the looting that took place between 1999 to date is not among the $400 billion mentioned, which means that we have over $500 billion stashed abroad.

CNPP is at a loss why the anti-graft agencies, especially the EFCC and President Yaradua are reluctant to explore the United Nations Stolen Assets Recovery{StAR},initiative to recover the looted fund, to transform our country.

Consequently, CNPP challenges the Presodent Yaradua to as a matter of urgent national importance to utilize the StAR initiative to recover our looted funds and fulfil the pledge he made to Nigerians.

 

Osita Okechukwu

National Publicity Secretary

CNPP