Jonathan Pleads For More Time Before Prosecuting Oil Subsidy Thieves

President Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians to give his government time to look for evidence with which to prosecute oil subsidy thieves already indicted by the report of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy payments.

The president made the plea in far away Brussels, Belgium where he had gone to attend the 119th/120th Sessions of the World Customs Organization.
While addressing an agitated Nigerian crowd in Belgium, Mr Jonathan said, “the EFCC is working on the report, so we must give them the chance to do their job. We have to build water-tight cases if we hope to get any conviction for any wrongdoing, and the law demands proof”, he said, adding that it was better to do a good job than to lose the cases in court due to shoddy preparations.

He pleaded with Nigerians, especially the media, to stop running his government and the country down. “Take a look at the USA; after September 11, 2001, all Americans came together to support their government’s fight against terrorism, regardless of their political leaning”, he said, adding that Nigerians should not play to the gallery or play politics with serious national issues.We will continue to ensure our freedom of speech, but we should use it to build the country, not destroy”, he urged.