President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday dismissed the claim by Senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that His administration’s anti-corruption war was selective, describing it as baseless and totally unjustifiable.
The 49-member Senate caucus of the PDP, led by Senate Minority Leader Godswill Akpabio, who is also under probe of for corruption, had last Thursday alleged that the anti-graft war initiated by the current administration was partisan, “lacks transparency and fairness” and was being targeted at opposition politicians.
But speaking through his senior special assistant, Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, the president said: “The wild allegation of bias and partisanship in the fight against corruption shouldn’t have come from respected and distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“That claim belongs to the past and not the present. Public officials and other leaders accused of corruption by relevant agencies should plead their innocence, not malice.”
In a statement he issued last night, Shehu maintained that on President Buhari’s watch, “the rule of law, not impunity, shall govern every aspect of life in Nigeria and there will be no room for sentiment, bias and corruption in the application of the laws of the land.”
Shehu also dismissed Akpabio’s claim that President Buhari and his administration were meddling in election petition cases through the Department of State Services (DSS).
He said, “The duties of the DSS and other security agencies are clearly spelt out in the laws establishing them. The federal government led by President Buhari does not give them instructions regarding their daily operations.
“Election tribunals and the Independent National Electoral Commission in Rivers, Abia and Akwa Ibom states do not operate under the guidance of the president.
“Any individual or groups of individuals who think that their legitimate political and civil rights are infringed upon by the DSS or any institution are advised to seek protection and redress under our constitution and laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria instead of resorting to baseless allegations against the Buhari administration.”
The statement made available to LEADERSHIP reads in part: “We have noted with regret the allegation by members of the PDP Senate Caucus that the present administration is being selective and partisan in its prosecution of the war against corruption. We state without equivocation that the allegation is false, baseless and totally unjustifiable.
“For the avoidance of any doubt whatsoever, we affirm that having made his zero tolerance for corruption clear to all and sundry, President Muhammadu Buhari does not micro-manage or interfere in the daily work of Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies.
“President Buhari’s unwavering stance is that whosoever is charged with corruption should face the law irrespective of whether they are members of the of All Progressives Congress (APC) , PDP or any other political party”.
The presidential spokesman added that as far as the president was concerned, corruption had no political party, no religion and no ethnic group.
Shehu reminded the PDP Senate Caucus and all Nigerians that right from 2003 when he started campaigning for the presidency of Nigeria, President Buhari “consistently promised to do his best to curb corruption in the country.
“The president remains wholly committed to fulfilling that promise and will not be deterred from the relentless prosecution of the war against corruption because he remains convinced that, as he has said, “unless Nigeria kills corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
“President Buhari also wishes to re-assure all Nigerians that his administration will not discriminate against individuals or groups in the performance of its duties, and that favours or patronage will not be dispensed on the basis of votes.
The statement noted that the president was committed to his oath of office and the letters and spirit of the constitution, and called on all Nigerians to join hands with him in the fight against insecurity, corruption and impunity in Nigeria “so that we can have a country that will prosper for the benefit of all of its citizens and future generations of Nigerians.”
Source:Leadership
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