‘Buhari should strengthen anti-graft agencies’
Buhari meeting peoples’ expectations
I have 99 percent confidence that the man elected president by Nigerians will perform. In a simple language I see him as the messiah that we have all been waiting for. I see hope and a new dawn in Nigeria. I see the locust days gone forever in Nigeria. It is definitely the Lord’s doing that this man emerged to take Nigerians to the Promised Land. It is something that we must celebrate.
On corruptionWe have laws in Nigeria and we have institutions to check corruption. But the truth is that these institutions were not allowed to work. First, I am going to say we must strengthen these institutions.
They are the Independent Corrupt Practices (and other related offences) Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Police Force.
By the time we strengthen these institutions such that there will be no sacred cow, the rule of law will prevail. I see the President-elect as a man who believes purely in the rule of law. It is for Nigerians to support him because in the process we might get to some areas where people will want to be spared but we should encourage him that there should be no sacred cow.
Whoever is corrupt should face the music. This country is blessed but it got to a point where about three percent of Nigerians were sucking this country dry like mosquitoes.
So the time has come for reckoning and whoever is found corrupt should not be spared. I will explain to you in due course why I said that the institutions to check corruption should be strengthened.
Jonathan conceding victory to Buhari
What was his option? What option had he? It was so obvious that he had lost the election. I think by the time he called the President-elect we had probably heard 90 percent of the poll result so there was no option for him than to concede defeat.
People said he conceded defeat in magnanimity but what was his option? He had no option than to throw in the towel.
Differences in results of March 28 and April 11 in Edo
Many Nigerians were not too sure that Jonathan could be defeated. They were so concerned about the incumbency factor.
But I tell you that what happened was that Nigerians were fed up in view of the various ills that bedeviled the country – corruption (the highest we have seen so far), insecurity, poor economy, bad power situation etc. Everything was going downwards.
So, Nigerians voted for a change. That is the truth. Then for the April 11 elections why a reversal? Many of us came out to speak publicly.
You’ll recall that we held a press conference on the 6th of April telling people the need to align properly. That Edo State will never again be in opposition. The Edo people listened and many other groups came out with that same slogan “we’ll never be in opposition” and people realized the benefit of having a government at the centre in their states. New defections to APC
Again, the issue of the defectors, people are probably looking at the area of integrity, people should be firm and be principled. Having said that I should say we should open our doors to those who are coming. We should welcome them. B
ut they should realize that they are coming after the rain has fallen. Like the Benins would say, “if you want to fetch water you should fetch it when the rain is falling.”
You should not fetch water when the rain has stopped falling. The time people could have joined the party was when the struggle was on with high level of uncertainty.
2016 governorship race in Edo
You will recall that when I joined the party in November last year there was a high level of uncertainty of the future. I told them I was coming to support the party to win elections. Thank God, today the future is clearer.
Talking about the future, in democracy the people’s resolve will always be done.
So, I am looking at the future with certainty but when it comes to making the decision that who and who will go for elective position like the governorship, the people will decide. There are many competent people. It is the people’s decision.
That is democracy. I don’t like politics of exclusion. Nobody has told me that only the deputy governor and myself are in contention.
What I heard from the party is that the governorship has been zoned to Edo South and the zone has eminent people. It is made up of seven local council areas and there are competent people from these areas. When we get there the people’s will shall prevail.
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4 Comments
WHILE I SUPPORT ALL THE ABOVE STATED MEASURES TO STOP CORRUPTION, I AM SUGGESTING ALL THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES BE SECRETLY SCREENED, AND ALSO ANY NEW ONE TO BE APPOINTED MUST PASS CORRUPTION TEST IN ADDITION TO OTHER PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS. .APC AS A PARTY SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT ANY BODY THAT HAS CORRUPTION ISSUES TO FACE OR FOUND TO BE CORRUPT MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO HOLD POLITICAL OR EXECUTIVE POSITION IN FUTURE. ALL THESE FACTORS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN ALLOWING ASPIRANT TO EVEN CONTEST FOR ANY ELECTIONS ESPECIALLY IN THE FORTH COMING GOVERNORSHIP ELECTIONS IN THE STATES THAT DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN 11TH APRIL, 2015.
Buhari needs to close the ICPC, strengthen the EFCC perhaps MORE importantly, removed the authority of the Police Force to investigate corruption cases (where cases had been investigated for decades, lost , missing, ignored) Empower the EFCC such that all other security agencies are subordinate to it in matters of corruption investigation and prosecutions.
OPEN ADVICE TO President-elect Buhari:
President Buhari should perfect the new voting system that birthed his
Presidency. He should ensure that the new INEC becomes an envy of the world,
that as the US Ambassador said, even the US, the “mother” of all
democracies, can learn from it. He should perfect the use of the card readers
and institute an unriggable tamper-proof automated e-election ASAP. This way,
President Buhari bequeaths an unrivalled lasting legacy to the Nigerian polity.
The cause of Corruption in Nigeria is this: Public
and private workers are not being paid livable wages, and the shortchange is
what erstwhile government officials embezzle. Please, arrange to pay all
workers wages enough for their monthly living and expenses, then they will not
need to take bribes and loot the treasury, and anyone who then does will have
to pay dearly. When Nigerians workers are paid livable wages, they will
individually and severally self-develop the country and the GDP and revenue
from taxable income will increase. Over 170,000,000 people will all be
self-developing the country instead of a few overworked bureaucrats.
(i) then government can devote full effort to the provision of infrastructural
facilities.
(ii) then, government surplus fund will be reduced to so little and no room
will be left for massive stealing.
(iii) then, only politicians, who are interested in working for the people and
not in looting, will vie for public posts.
Outgoing Jonathan’s handing over note must include his own asset declarations
before assuming and after leaving office, and those of all his MDAs,
Ministerial, Directorate and Administrative officials. These asset declarations
should be forwarded to the EFCC for vetting and further actions.
LET the new EFCC AND COURTS do their job
irrespective of who’s involved. Compose your new EFCC from incorruptible
activists, incorruptible judges, incorruptible academics, incorruptible
forensic auditors and accountants etc., who will recoup ALL the monies stolen
from us, not just part of it, since recouping part will only make looters want
to steal more so they can keep part.
Thank you, sir. May God bless your regime and Nigeria too.
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS. Sai Buhari, Fe Buhari, Love Buhari, March
28, Nigerians Voted Buhari, DESTROYER of Maitatsine and Boko Haram and of all
Corruption in government, as President of Nigeria.
THERE SHOULD BE ZERO TOLERANCE TO CORRUPTION AFTER THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE HER PART i.e. Strengthen all institutions, carryout enlightenment campaigns on corruption/anti-corruption, chase/direct all the looters and get refund. All these must be well broadcast and televised. Buhari should be loud and clear on his actions/decisions/complaints. Buhari should regularise salaries and wages of Govt. and elected officials. For example, no Senator should earn a basic salary higher than the highest Govt. Ministry official and, allowances should be commensurate with those of Govt. Ministries. The national assemply should be one and not two houses. Why should we have a Senate, a House of Representatives, and State Houses of Assembly??? Why????
We will review and take appropriate action.