The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has called for an independent probe into the importation of toxic fuel and distribution of same in the country.
In a statement on Thursday by the spokesman for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, the party called on the Federal Government to fish out the importers of the toxic fuel.
The probe, according to the party, must establish where the fuel was imported from and the identities of the importers with a view to holding them accountable.
The statement said in part: “Where was the toxic fuel imported from? Which company is the pre-inspection agent? How much was paid for the very cheap contaminated fuel and through which banks was payment effected? All documents relating to the transaction must be made public.
“Our party insists that President Muhammadu Buhari, as the Minister of Petroleum Resources cannot acquit himself with his reported comedy of anger, buck-passing, querying of subordinates and attempt by the government to use some companies as scapegoats instead of accepting responsibility by exposing and naming individuals involved in the crime.
“President Buhari and the APC must explain how the reported 317 million liters of toxic fuel came into our country, got cleared and distributed across the nation to worsen the life-discounting experiences of millions of Nigerians under the APC administration.
“Apart from the consequential economic hardship occasioned by the damaging of cars and equipment, crippling of means of livelihood across the country as well as an increase in the cost of food items and essential services, the cascading effect of adulterated fuel on our aviation industry can only be imagined.
“Sadly, the situation has the possibility to trigger loss of confidence by international airlines in our aviation fuel supply with attendant economic downturn as they would more likely prefer to fuel in neighbouring countries”.
The PDP called on Nigerians, particularly the Organised Labour, Civil Society, student bodies, professional bodies, and all persons of goodwill to insist on an independent inquiry of what it said was a crime against the Nigerian people.
“In any case, the PDP strongly cautions the APC and its corrupt government to note that they are practically pushing Nigerians to the wall and there is a limit to which the people can continue to stomach the barefaced atrocities and impunities of the APC”, it added.
The main opposition party cautioned the government against shielding the perpetrators from justice, alleging connivance with some foreign interests to defraud Nigerians.
