By Steve Oni, Ilorin
Kwara youths under the aegis of Concerned Kwara Youths on Monday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order immediate suspension of the Director General, National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Mallam Ishaq Kawu Modibbo and the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over their alleged involvement in the N2.5 billion corruption charges leveled against them.
Addressing a crowded news conference in Ilorin, the leader of the youth organization, Prince Haliru Dantosho Mahmud, said that it is expedient to suspend the two government officials pending outcome of the charges preferred against them.
It is recalled that the federal government had filed a case against the NBC Director General before a federal high court in Abuja, few days ago over his alleged involvement in N2.5 billion scam.
While commending the federal government on steps taken so far on the matter, the group condemned President Buhari’s alleged selective style of fighting corruption, saying that it was designed to clampdown on members of the opposition and other Nigerians with dissenting views against the Buhari led APC government.
“We have observed with great disappointment how former members of the PDP with high profile criminal charges are being shielded by the presidency because they have now defected to the ruling APC. This further confirms the statement of the National Chairman of the APC, m Comrade Adams Oshiomhole at the presidential campaign rally in Delta state where he said ‘no matter the level of crime you have committed in the past, once you have joined APC, all your sins are forgiven.’
“None the less, Nigerians are losing confidence in the president’s sincerity in the fight against corruption. The period within which a petition was submitted against the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen and his subsequent suspension by the president without following due process is worrisome and makes the below questions very pertinent:
(1) if it was so easy for President Muhammadu Buhari to unilaterally suspend the Chief Justice of Nigeria within a short time and without recourse to the rule of law, why has it been so difficult for him to suspend or sack government officials and political office holders who have been alleged or indicted?
(2) Why did it take Buhari government so many months to suspend the former secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir Lawal after he was indicted by the vice president, Yemi osinbajo panel and just being arraigned after almost two years?
“In the light of the above, we urge the president to be sincere and engage in holistic fight against corruption irrespective of ethnic, religious and partisan consideration.”
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