The All Progressives Congress has warned against any attempt to truncate the ongoing fight against corruption in the country, even as the party expressed its support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to end the scourge in the country.
The ruling party issued the statement against the backdrop of rumours that the National Peace Committee visited Buhari to put pressure on him to stall the rumoured probe of the Goodluck Jonathan administration. The committee members visited Buhari 2 days ago.
Speaking on behalf of the committee after the meeting with Buhari, the Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Dr. Mathew Hassan Kukah, noted that Jonathan never sought for intervention of the committee.
But he pointed out that they are worried about the process the probe might take. He said, “I think what we are concerned about is process. It is no longer a military regime and, under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
“Again, our own commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former president’s commitment and what he did still remains spectacular and I think that President Buhari himself appreciates that.”
In an obvious reference to the visit, the APC urged opinion leaders in the country to ensure that their actions and utterances do not give comfort to those who looted the commonwealth of Nigeria, NAN reports.
In a statement issued in Lagos by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said, ”Our party promised Nigerians change, but the change that we promised and which Nigerians desire so much cannot be achieved if we allow the resources that belong to all Nigerians to be appropriated by a few.
”How do we upgrade our decayed infrastructure and provide jobs for our people when the money meant for that has been embezzled by a few?
”President Buhari has promised to break the vicious cycle of corruption that has held Nigeria down. How can he do that if he allows those who have looted the treasury to escape justice, and then use their ill-gotten wealth to fight the government?
”How can he do that if he turns a blind eye to the monumental cases of corruption in all sectors? We know that fighting corruption in a society where the cankerworm has eaten deep into its fabric will not be easy. We know that corruption will always fight back.
”But there is no other choice than to confront and destroy this monster once and for all, lest it destroys Nigeria. Therefore, those who are shouting themselves hoarse by saying the Buhari Administration’s fight against corruption is selective or is a distraction, are only seeking to sabotage the epic battle.
”If they have any case of corruption against any member of the APC, they should forward their evidence to the appropriate anti-corruption agency. That is why we are restating our unalloyed support for the President, and urging him not to be deterred or distracted by those hiding under sophistry to weaken the fight.
”We are glad that most Nigerians have lent their support to the government’s fight against corruption, going by their interventions on the social media, which has now become a people’s parliament of sorts. We urge them not to relent in their support, irrespective of the antics of the naysayers,” the party said.
Before the general elections this year, Buhari and Jonathan signed peace agreements at the instance of the committee, in order to forestall any plans of violence.
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