OpeOluwani Akintayo
02 August 2017, Sweetcrude, Lagos – The House of Representatives Committee on Steel led by Hon. Idris Lawal has called on the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, to resign on account of alleged lackadaisical manner of handling the Ajaokuta Steel project in Kogi State.
The minister failed to appear at the investigative hearing by the committee to receive a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, from Kogi Elders Forum on Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited, ASCL, on Friday last week.
Hon. Lawal, the chairman of the committee, alongside 10 other members of the committee, lamented the lackadaisical manner of the minister of steel and other ministers with the responsibility of resuscitating the moribund Ajaokuta Steel. “Let them resign if they are not capable of handling those ministries,” the committee proclaimed.
Hon. Akinlade, representing Ekiti West raised a point of order on the Ministers’ absence. “Are the Ministers above those they are representing. On whose interest are they ministers?” Hon. Akinlade asked.
He charged the committee “to take a very strong action against those toiling with the people’s destiny”.
The law maker commended the individual effort of Barr. Natasha Akpoti, which he described as “not just being patriotic but humanitarian to a just course”. He commend the elders and stakeholders of Kogi State for their time and good will.
Hon. Akinlade went further to vow that every company and individuals involved in promoting the Ajaokuta dilemma and mess must be held accountable for their roles.
He urged concerned authorities on Ajaokuta Steel to bury their personal interests and ego while things are done in the interest of the country and the people.
The law maker representing Adavi/Okehi, Hon. Kabiru Ajana, also expressed anger over the unpatriotic roles of those charged with Ajaokuta’s responsibility. He reaffirmed that the committee will get hard on the minsters to ensure progress for the project.
Hon. Ajana vehemently faulted the agreement signed between the Federal Government and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, GINL, saying the agreement was full of flaws and not in the interest of the people and that the Committee will use every section of the constitution to right the wrongs.
“The government must realise that diversification (of the economy) is unrealistic without the steel sector being developed,” Ajana added.
The Committee resolved to send a strong warning to the Ministers in question and as well invite them once again and if they failed to honour their calls to duty, the House shall order for their arrest. They agreed to reconvene before the end of August.
The leader of the Ajaokuta/Itakpe Revival Movement, Barr. Akpoti, commended the elders and the stakeholders for their positive roles in the struggle. She appreciated the House Committee for their patriotism towards Ajaokuta’s revival.
