Buhari berates Nigerians hiding under religion to perpetrate corruption

President Muhammadu Buhari has described some Nigerians’ penchant for hiding under religion to indulge in injustice and corrupt practices as ‘bloody nonsense.’

The President, who hosted former members of staff who worked with him as Military Head of State between January 1984 and August 1985 at the weekend in Abuja, added that recourse to religion and ethnicity ‘is corruption, pure and simple.’

Citing lessons from his electoral battles at the courts in 2003, 2007 and 2011, he said those who ruled against him were Muslims from the North, while those who defended him were Christians from the South.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, described the reunion and interactive meeting as an ‘emotional one’ for him, as he had not seen some of the people since 1985, when his regime was toppled.

Commending his former Aide-de-Camp, Mustapha Jokolo, who organised the parley, the President also commended the late Major General Tunde Idiagbon, who he said, showed uncommon loyalty and courage as his second in command.

However, the President yesterday sacked the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr. Bichi Baffa.

He has been replaced by former Executive Secretary, Professor Elias Suleiman Bogoro. He served between April 2014 and February 2016.

A statement from the Office of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, noted that Prof. Bogoro’s reinstatement is with immediate effect, with the same terms and conditions as in his previous appointment and as stipulated in TETFund’s staff conditions of service.

Meanwhile, President Buhari will on February 4 2019 visit Kwara State as part of his ongoing reelection campaign across the country, according to statement in Ilorin yesterday.

“We are pleased to announce that the President will arrive Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on February 4, 2019 in continuation of his reelection campaigns.

“He will be accompanied by several party big wigs, including the National Chairman, governors and ministers, among other officials, Kwara State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and state coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council,” the statement added.