THE presidency has assured that those criticising President Goodluck Jonathan for his perceived reluctance to act on the outcome of the Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives ad hoc committee which probed the fuel subsidy regime are jumping the gun, as the president is prepared to act in the nation’s best interest.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, told Nigerian Tribune in Abuja that the president will not condone corruption or any attempt to sabotage the country, saying that those who hold the position that government is trying to suppress the probe report are deliberately being mischievous.

While reiterating that the document has not been forwarded to the president, the presidency spokesman said if it is received, the appropriate government agencies will take the necessary actions.

According to him, “but at the point at which we speak, people are already jumping the gun. They are already speculating. They are already saying the president will not act on a document that is even not yet before him and this is a clear demonstration of the mischief that seems to have become the profession of certain elements in this environment who seem determined to do everything to sabotage this administration.

“But I can assure you that President Jonathan will act in the best interest of Nigeria which is that President Jonathan will not condone impunity, he will not condone corruption; he will not condone any attempt to sabotage the collective interest of Nigerians.”

Dr Abati explained that what the House did in probing the petroleum subsidy regime is in consonance with the position of President Jonathan, who he recalled as acting president in 2010, had ordered a probe of the oil industry just as his objective of deregulating the downstream of the petroleum industry is to check corruption and ensure accountability and transparency in the sector.

“So, to that extent, the probe that is going on in the House of Representatives is consistent with what President Jonathan has been doing. There is no contradiction there. Both the National Assembly and President Jonathan are on the same page but the House of Reps has not yet completed its work. It is the ad hoc committee that has presented its report to the committee of the Whole to the House,” he said.

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