By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN — MAJORITY Leader of Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Philip Shaibu, has called on the National Assembly to probe the funds allocated for the security of the country’s waterways, saying that the complaints by the Minister of Finance, Dr, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over crude oil theft on the waterways  was an embarrassment to the country.

Shaibu, who also faulted the statement credited to the Minister that the ratio of unemployed youths in the country stood at 37 per cent, accused her of misleading President Goodluck Jonathan on the true situation of the crisis in the country’s economy, noting that unless the President realises the problems facing the nation, “we will all be in trouble soon.”

The All Progressives Congress, APC, lawmaker, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, yesterday, described Okonjo Iweala’s economic policies as “imperialist and misleading,” adding that “Okonjo-Iweala owes the youths an apology.”

On the issue of crude oil theft, Shaibu said: “It is unacceptable for the Federal Government to claim that it is losing revenue to oil thieves. What that means is that government has failed in its responsibility by attributing drop in oil revenue to theft. The government should tell us the truth.  I think they should look at their books because the National Assembly approves money for security and I will advise the National Assembly to probe the funds being allocated to safeguard the waterways, so that we can know the truth.”