Muslim students back Buhari’s anti-corruption war

• Say SGF’s suspension has no religious undertone
• Urge N’Assembly to pass 2017 budget without further delay

Muslim Students in the country yesterday threw their weight behind the anti-graft war of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and specifically commended the Federal government for introducing the “whistle blowing policy” which according to them has boost the war.

The group, under the aegis of Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN) also urged the President to immediately deploy the recovered stolen funds from corrupt officials towards provision of “necessary and critical infrastructure, like power”.

The President of the MSSN, Zone B, in-charge of 17 States, Mushafau Kehinde Alaran spoke at a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.His words: “Our great society, MSSN, in clear terms supports the anti-corruption war by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration. The introduction of whistle blowing as another device to expose corruption is accepted and appreciated.

“We hereby call on the President that the recovered funds so far that has gone through necessary prosecution and adjudged stolen should be immediately deployed to provision of necessary and critical infrastructure like power and education.”

Alaran also asked Legislators at the National Assembly to be alive to their responsibilities and pass the 2017 Budget and other pending bills on anti-corruption in due course to aid the anti-graft war.

He however faulted a statement credited to the youth wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), through Daniel Kadzai that the suspension of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, has religious undertone.

He argued that the statement is prejudice to the outcome of a committee set up by the Presidency and headed by Professor Yemi Osinbajo to look into the allegations against Lawal.

Alaran urged the Christian youths to emulate the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) by staying clear of partisan politics and “remain a religious body.”He said, “Nigerians are well informed and more sophisticated in reasoning than petty insinuations from CAN. We all know the grass cutting controversies predated the JAMB (Joint Admission and Matriculation Board) registration.

“This moment is historic in our journey to nation building as all Nigerians unanimously queued behind President Muhammadu Buhari for leading by example. CAN should note that her divisive statement will not change minds of Nigerians who give the current administration the needed support to fight corruption, irrespective of religious affiliation of perpetrators.”

On the budget, he said, “We cannot imagine what is causing delay in the passage of the 2017 budget in April, 2017, delay in passing anti-corruption bill and the special court on corruption since 2015. The foreign exchange policy should have been a very desirable issue of attention. What we see is personal vendetta which is not the reason why they were elected.”

Alaran urged all those who have corruption charges against them to endeavour to submit themselves to proper prosecution in the interest of the Nigeria populace “ who are the victims of the corruption saga.”He stressed, “Nigeria is bigger than any individual or group of individuals.”