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CHIEF Olusegun Obasanjo, former President, has called on the National Assembly to ensure that all proven cases of fraud or corruption are punished according to the law. “Where you have proven cases of fraud or corruption, please give details of the amount involved, the bank involved, the persons involved, Obasanjo said in his presentation to the House Committee on Power and Steel, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday.

“Where it is corruption, not only should you make public such proven misconduct, hand the offender with necessary documents to EFCC and/or ICPC,’’ he advised.

He noted that in all cases during his administration, “we pursued the best interest of Nigeria and we went to great lengths to ensure that the interest of Nigeria, Nigerians and the government is protected.

“As head of that administration, I spared no public officer who committed any breach of public order, integrity and propriety, particularly fraud and corruption.

“No matter how high an official was, he was sanctioned for misbehaviour. In this respect, I lead by example.

“But if your Committee has anything to the contrary, bring it out here and now, to explain if explanation is necessary,’’ he said.

Obasanjo said after all said and done, the bottom line was that Nigerians needed power and they needed it now.

He warned that any delay was double jeopardy, explaining that there was already loss to our economic and industrial growth.

He pointed out that every month that the contractors were wittingly or unwittingly prevented by whatever reason or excuse from embarking on their jobs, Nigeria would pay more.

“The hold-up and the delay that have attended the projects in the pipeline since May 2007 will, by my estimation, cause the nation not less than 25 per cent more by the time the works are completed.

“There is the danger that some of the equipment, particularly the turbines that are now at the port and elsewhere in the country, may suffer deterioration if not kept in a special storage facility,’’ he said.

According to the former President, such equipment they may have to be replaced or refurbished at a very high cost before they can be installed.

“The point must be made and vigorously too that 20 20 20 will be a mirage without adequate power supply and adequate transportation.

“The private sector will have to be involved in helping to provide these either as contractors, suppliers or public-private partnership,’’ he advised.

Obasanjo warned against any attempt to criminalise, antagonise, or disgrace private sector operators and expect to get the best support and cooperation out of them.

He said that most of the contractors and suppliers were companies and organisations with tremendous reputation and most of their management and staff were men of honour and dignity.

“They deserve understanding and respect.

Most of them, as far as I know, have carried out the task consciously and committedly,’’ he explained, saying that in all cases, there were officials or committees who were supposed to monitor them.