APC presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign organisation has described the clearance of senator Musiliu Obanikoro as minister by the Nigerian Senate as tragedy which he believed can only happen in Nigeria under present administration, adding that the same government has turned one of the country’s revered institutions into a toothless bulldog.
Buhari team said since President Goodluck Jonathan took over power over four years ago, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has not recorded a single high profile conviction.
Addressing a press conference at the APC campaign headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mallam Garba Shehu, emphasized that General Buhari has said it times without number that no corrupt person will be part of his government when voted in.
He said: “Obanikoro’s clearance by the Senate is tragic. We have seen him saying the wrong things which is not in line with what a leader should be. If the President thinks that these are the kind of people he needs as Ministers, then Nigerians should take their cue from there. You have seen Gen. Buhari at CHATAM house saying that no corrupt person will be part of his government. Please we want you to believe him.
Shehu explained that it would be a wrong thing to do if EFCC should return as an attack dog, adding that “If EFCC was set up on the bases of a law formulated by the National Assembly signed by the president of Nigeria , if only it will be allowed to operate without interference in accordance with the law that will satisfy everyone but the president option is to do nothing about corruption. What is the alternative? He has no alternative than corruption, using the court of law while EFCC is not working”
Reacting to the allegation that General Buhari is also surrounded by some known corrupt politicians, the campaign spokesman who described politics as a dustin also said “I don’t believe there bad people in APC, even if they were the difference they make is that they have chosen to change. They have accepted change. Even in our scriptures, God Almighty want the bad man to change and become a good man of tomorrow.
“So, the problem with PDP is that even at the level of rethoric they don’t think change is necessary, they want our rout old way to continue. So, want everyone to come to APC but when they come they must change and do as General Buhari said he would do by leading by example.”
Commenting on the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Shehu said at present the anti-corruption agency is in turmoil, saying, “Its chairman is accused by staff of corruption. The commission’s staff are also being owed salaries and entitlements, having not been paid for three months.”
Shehu believed that Nigeria obviously needs a regime change through the instrumentality of the ballot box.
