- Presidency says many powerful people are using the media to fight President Buhari because of the anti-corruption
- Garba Shehu says Buhari's anti-corruption war has disrupted the corrupt avenues some powerful elites make their money and so they are annoyed
- He notes that despite all the complaints, noby has provided any "evidence of President Buhari’s selectiveness in the war against corruption"
The Presidency has admitted that President Muhammadu Buhari has offended many powerful Nigerians with his anti-corruption war.
Leadership reports that senior special assistant on media and publicity to the President Garba Shehu noted that a number of Nigerian elites have been fighting the presidency using particularly the media because of disruption of their corrupt sources of income.
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The presidential aide was reacting to former military governor of Kaduna state Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd) who recently accused the present administration of being unfair in its war against corruption.
President Buhari is facing a tough fight from powerful elites because of the anti-corruption war, Presidency says
Shehu said: “Curiously, despite the various accusations and media attacks, no one has so far come forth with any evidence of President Buhari’s selectiveness in the war against corruption.
“All the agencies involved are allowed freedom to carry out their responsibilities, without any inference whatsoever from the Presidency. If Colonel Umar or anyone else feels that they have any evidence to the contrary, they are encouraged to make this public.”
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He added: “A number of Nigerian elites have over the years benefitted from various forms of corruption, including monthly payouts from the office of previous National Security Advisers.
” Let me clarify that this is not in reference to Colonel Umar in particular. The Buhari administration has offended so many of our greedy elite by putting a stop to this, plugging many of the holes through which our country’s resources, belonging to each and every one of us, were looted by a few. Naturally, these elites are frustrated. But we shall not allow them to frustrate the war against corruption.
“The war against corruption is here to stay. As long as President Buhari is in power, Nigerians can rest assured of that. It will not succumb to media attacks. It will not be deterred by false accusations. It will not be quenched by disgruntled elements.”
NAIJ.com recalls that Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar had called for release of ex-national security adviser.
He said in a statement: “This is a welcome departure from the prevailing anti-democratic process by which accused persons, particularly from the opposition camp, are unlawfully detained pending the commencement of investigations, or refused bail granted by law courts.
“There is national unanimity in support of the war against corruption which is expected to be non-discriminatory and waged by a meticulous adherence to the rule of law.
“For the war to be meaningful and sustainable, it must be elevated beyond a President Buhari personal struggle to a national one.
“Most fair-minded Nigerians are no more impressed and are indeed sceptical with the conduct of this government’s anti-corruption war which appears to be aimed at the neutralization and destruction of the opposition.”
Watch this NAIJ.com video of a man who believes that President Muhammadu Buhari is the Commander-in-Chief of corruption.
