Buhari decries blackmail of senior government officials

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to discerning Nigerians to ignore orchestrated attempts to sully the integrity of senior government officials, who are being tarred with the brush of corruption without any concrete evidence.

The president made the appeal in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.

Buhari, according to the statement, was reacting to online media reports, alleging that the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, is being investigated over crude oil swap deals and gas lifting during his tenure as GMD of the petroleum corporation.

The statement quoted President Buhari as appealing for decent and civilised comments, “particularly when it has to do with the integrity of those who are serving the country.

“Terrible and unfounded comments about other people’s integrity are not good.

“We are not going to spare anybody who soils his hands, but people should please wait till such individuals are indicted.”

Buhari reiterated the administration’s commitment to probity, accountability and integrity, promising that transparency remained a watchword, which would never be trifled with.