Niger Delta activist lauds Buhari on graft war, ministers

A Niger Delta activist and public affairs analyst, Benson Bokujene has lauded President Muhammadu Buhari over the vigour with which he has been implementing his government’s change agenda for the benefit for all Nigerians.

Bokujene, in an interview with The Guardian said since the President took over the reins of governance on May 29, 2015, he has introduced far-reaching changes that would impact positively on the fortunes of the country in no distant time, saying: “Slowly and steadily, sanity is being restored, at least at the federal level, to a nation that had completely lost its moral compass.”

His words “President Buhari has started putting in place framework for accountability and transparency in governance. For the first time in a long time, ministers are being subjected to a thorough process of screening. If you look at the background of where we are coming from as a people, you would realise that these changes are significant that would surely reposition Nigeria for greatness.”

He also pointed to the fact that the current conversation on governance in Nigeria reveals that never before has the discussion been so passionate about the subject of accountability and transparency in government. “Due to the tone set by the President, we now have a situation in which would-be political office holders are being made to account, even before taking office. This sis surely a welcome development,” he said.

Similarly, the Niger Delta activist commended the President for the introduction of Treasury Single Account (TSA), which he described as a significant move to end the mindless looting of the nation’s resources. He said the reforms in the Nigeria Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would equally ensure efficient management of the nation’s oil wealth in the face of dwindling revenue occasioned by the fall in the price of oil in the international market.
He said the people of the Niger Delta and all Nigerians should stand fully behind the President as he takes the bold steps needed to reposition the nation.

Anti graft war
According to him, “We have to be very supportive of the President and the anti-graft agencies, as they take the fight to all those who have desecrated the public space through criminal conversion of government resources for private gain. That is why the President must revamp the anti-corruption agencies by infusing them with courageous individuals with the requisite investigative skills to trace all looted national assets, and bring the culprits to book.

“The anti-corruption crusade is so great a responsibility that the President and his administration cannot afford to fight it alone. I want to believe that all Nigerians who voted for this President on the basis of change would join hands with him to ensure that the war against graft and all forms of diversion of public funds would take firm root at the grassroots.

“Similarly, the enactment of critical legislation, such as the Whistle Blower Act to empower and protect citizens who take the risk of exposing corruption in both public and private spaces, should be done. I believe that war against terrorism and corruption would receive greater backing from the Nigerian youth, if the economy were related to create jobs, and ensure shared prosperity.”

Bokujene canvassed the view that putting a close tab on the economy is the only way to cut of the supply of manpower to criminal enterprises like Boko Haram, kidnapping and armed robbery syndicates.

“With the imminent screening of ministers, President Buhari should as soon as his team is formed, give priority to the economy. Nigerians await a healthy dose people oriented policies in agriculture, solid minerals, the oil and gas sector to drive growth and generate jobs and revenue for Nigeria.”