Restricting probe to 2007 shows Buhari lacks courage – Ijaw youths
The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, has condemned President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to restrict the period
covered by the ongoing corruption probe to 2007, stressing that it creates the impression that the President is shielding his friends and associates from the investigation.
covered by the ongoing corruption probe to 2007, stressing that it creates the impression that the President is shielding his friends and associates from the investigation.
In a statement issued on Sunday by its
President, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, IYC stressed that the time boundary
of the probe would only portray Buhari as someone who lacked
courage to revisit the big corruption scandals that took place
between 1999 and 2007, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo reigned as
president.
President, Mr. Udengs Eradiri, IYC stressed that the time boundary
of the probe would only portray Buhari as someone who lacked
courage to revisit the big corruption scandals that took place
between 1999 and 2007, when Chief Olusegun Obasanjo reigned as
president.
Eradiri challenged the President to either
extend the probe to 1960, when the country attained independence,
or at best, 1999, when the country returned to democracy after
years of military rule, to revisit some of the corruption scandals
in the country.
extend the probe to 1960, when the country attained independence,
or at best, 1999, when the country returned to democracy after
years of military rule, to revisit some of the corruption scandals
in the country.
He insisted that a genuine probe should
indeed concentrate on the Obasanjo administration for failing to
procure arms and ammunition for the military in spite of huge
budgetary allocations to the defence sector.
indeed concentrate on the Obasanjo administration for failing to
procure arms and ammunition for the military in spite of huge
budgetary allocations to the defence sector.
The IYC president asserted that Buhari’s
probe would have made more sense if it had included the eight years
of the Obasanjo administration rather than announcing the probe of
the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and the
immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
probe would have made more sense if it had included the eight years
of the Obasanjo administration rather than announcing the probe of
the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’Adua and the
immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
He noted that the Boko Haram insurgency would have been nipped in the bud if the government in power then, had equipped the military to carry out their statutory responsibility of securing the country.
Eradiri cautioned that the plan to avoid
probing the Obasanjo administration would send out the wrong signal
that the probe was designed to protect some of the people, who
committed grave economic crimes against the country, which should
be of concern to him.
probing the Obasanjo administration would send out the wrong signal
that the probe was designed to protect some of the people, who
committed grave economic crimes against the country, which should
be of concern to him.
According to the statement, “We find it
pertinent to react to recent media reports that our dear President,
Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered a probe of weapon procurement for the
military from 2007 to date.
pertinent to react to recent media reports that our dear President,
Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered a probe of weapon procurement for the
military from 2007 to date.
“While we are not against any effort of
the President to investigate previous administrations and indeed
take steps against the scourge of corruption in the society, we
hereby state without equivocation that the period covered by this
probe is suspect.
the President to investigate previous administrations and indeed
take steps against the scourge of corruption in the society, we
hereby state without equivocation that the period covered by this
probe is suspect.
“It would have made a lot of sense for
somebody, who is genuinely interested in revisiting alleged cases
of malfeasance, which had held our nation back, to either commence
such an investigation from 1960 when the country became independent
or from 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy after years of
military dictatorship.
somebody, who is genuinely interested in revisiting alleged cases
of malfeasance, which had held our nation back, to either commence
such an investigation from 1960 when the country became independent
or from 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy after years of
military dictatorship.
“We hold that this is unfair and that the
tenure of Chief Obasanjo is being exempted because of the role he
played in Buhari emergence as President.
tenure of Chief Obasanjo is being exempted because of the role he
played in Buhari emergence as President.
“In fact, if there is somebody that should
be probed, it should be Chief Obasanjo, who lacked foresight and
failed in the critical job to adequately arm our military, in spite
of the huge funds appropriated for defence under him. If he had
done so, the menace of Boko Haram would have long been dealt with
in the early stages. It took the administration of Goodluck
Jonathan to buy the weapons we need”.
be probed, it should be Chief Obasanjo, who lacked foresight and
failed in the critical job to adequately arm our military, in spite
of the huge funds appropriated for defence under him. If he had
done so, the menace of Boko Haram would have long been dealt with
in the early stages. It took the administration of Goodluck
Jonathan to buy the weapons we need”.
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