Return Stolen Funds, Buhari Appeals to Looters as Ex-PPMC MD ‘Returns’ $400 Million

Kayode Sesan

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday appealed to past Nigerian leaders who had stolen the country blind to voluntarily return their loots in the interest of the nation.

This is coming as SIGNAL exclusively reported in a tweet on Saturday that former Managing Director of Nigeria’s Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC), Prince Haruna Momoh has allegedly returned the sum of $400 million to Nigeria’s treasury. In another development, presidency sources who did not want to be named told SIGNAL on Saturday that the former boss of PPMC was still undergoing investigations for illegal crude oil swap deals running into hundreds of millions of dollars.

Buhari made the appeal in Kaduna while addressing the All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters and other youths at the first edition of Kaduna Annual Music Festival.

Buhari who spoke to supporters in English Language, before addressing the crowd in Hausa language, blamed the past government of the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for mismanaging the country’s treasury when appreciable revenue was generated from sales of crude oil.

“We are not fighting anybody but we are appealing to them to return the stolen funds so that we can development electricity, roads and create jobs,” he said.

According to him, the PDP for 16 years mismanaged the country’s commonwealth, which created widespread under-development and abject poverty that required creative thinking and patience as his administration strives to revamp the economy to create employment, generate wealth and tackle the security challenges facing the nation.  The President however promised to judiciously utilise government funds, but said Nigerians must endure the temporary difficulties of the country’s economic reality, in order to enjoy the benefits.

He noted that a creative approach was required to revamp the economy because of the colossal damage it suffered in the previous dispensation. He however lauded the Kaduna state government for promoting creative sector, at the same time urged citizens to leverage on the opportunities provided by the government.

Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in his remarks assured listeners that the motive behind the festival was to appreciate artists that contributed to the success of the 2015 general election and also emphasise the importance of the creative industry in promoting culture and mobilising and engaging the youths.

The governor said about 87.5 per cent  of the state’s population is below 35 years of age, noting that an alternative forms to engage them in economic activities was essential.