Alkali, group caution media, govt on probe of Jonathan’s govt, Oronsaye’s trial

Former President Goodluck Jonathan’s Political Adviser, Professor Rufai ‎Ahmed Alkali, has condemned what he called media trial of persons who served in the last administration.

Alkali, in a statement in Abuja, ‎expressed disappointment over media reports on the probe of the past administration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the campaign funds of the Jonathan/Sambo 2015 Presidential Campaign Organization (PCO).

He said that he had “resisted the urge and temptations to join issues with the sponsors and writers of these stories, hoping that in good time, they will know the truth.”

He added: “However, it has become imperative at this stage, to urge writers to allow the security agencies, who are made up of highly competent and well trained professionals, to handle the investigations diligently.

“It is time we move away from the dramatisation of serious issues and focus our attention and energy towards consolidating on the gains of democracy.

“It is not PDP leaders that are on trial. It is not even the former PDP Government alone that is on trial. It is the ruling elite in the country that is on trial over our individual and collective failures. And each and every one of us will, at some stage in life, face and hopefully past the integrity test.”

Also, the Federal Government has been advised to review the ongoing trial of former Head of Service (HoS) of the federation, Mr. Steve Oronsaye.

Integrity Forum, a non- governmental organization, which gave the advice in a statement signed by its national coordinator, James Alo and secretary, Aliu Sanni, said the entire case against Oronsaye smacked of vendetta and a bid to punish him.

The group noted that rather than put Oronsaye on trial, he should be commended for his service to the country as all the key figures during the public hearing on corruption in the pension office exonerated him while “the Senate committee equally absolved him of any wrongdoing.”