Yemisi Izuora
Some pressure groups have continued to react on policies, appointments and in particular the fight against corruption of president Muhammadu Buhari.
While the Civil Society Coalition Against Corruption (CSCAC) lauded the administrations tactical approach to deal with corrupt practices, the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) questioned the consideration of persons believed to have plundered the treasury in his appointments.
CSCAC on its own said it will begin to track corruption cases as a proactive to monitor and guarantee good governance.
The coalition also threatened to picket firms and individuals indicted in the ongoing corruption war embarked upon by the present administration.
Reacting to criticisms of alleged selective probe by President Muhammadu Buhari, the group at a media chat regretted that such statements are coming from key members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under whose leadership that corruption took a monumental space.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Olanrewaju Suraju, said, “We agree that in any genuine fight against corruption, there should not be friend or foe, and no selectivity or privilege of association.
But it is just natural that since PDP was in power for sixteen years at the federal and most state governments, the preponderance of suspected corrupt government officials being investigated or about to be investigated and prosecuted will most likely come from PDP based on the ruinous ways they ran the country when the party was in power”.
Suraju challenged the critics to tender tenable and indicting documents against suspected All Progressive Congress (APC) or any other party stalwarts, adding that “the my son is not the only thief” approach of the party is unhelpful of corruption fight.
On its part, the CLO condemned Buhari’s romance with previous rulers who allegedly plundered and looted the country.
“In particular, CLO condemns the appointment of General Olusegun Obasanjo by President Buhari as the country’s Envoy to Guinea Bissau and the frequent visits and praise comments by the former heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdul-Salam.
These rulers plundered Nigeria and brought us to the present ugly, deplorable state where we are today” a statement by its president Igho Akeregha said.
In Akeregha’s view, continued romance with these persons would thicken the people’s suspicion in the fight against graft and may cause the anti-corruption war to seem as if it were discriminatory and selective and targeted against few people.
