Head of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption to
President Muhammadu Buhari and renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Itse
Sagay has revealed that the President’s party, the All Progressive Congress
(APC) is more corrupt than the ousted People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
He said in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune that the APC is
peopled by very clever and highly intelligent, as well as criminally minded
people taking advantage of any slightest opportunity or loophole unlike the PDP.
“I am telling you sincerely, you can hardly beat them in such an issue.”
Speaking on the knotty issues of the Kogi governorship election and other political cases before the courts in Nigeria, Sagay said most of the political judgements in court now will be tilting in favour of the APC because they are in power.
He said in Kogi State, the most eligible person to have been used
to replace the late Abubakar Audu in the supplementary election was Audu’s
running mate, James Faleke but because a powerful caucus felt he would not
listen to them, the powers that be within the party manipulated the whole
situation against him.
Alleging that the judiciary is being manipulated by the executive,
he said the independence of the judiciary is just a mere saying. “For instance, a judge can be fired by the person (the President) that puts him
there if he gives a judgement that is not pleasing to his party. And because
the judge is still interested in his job, he will want to act to the script.”
He also alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) is being seriously compromised by the politicians in power. “I am very close to some of their top officials somehow and I know that they
dance to the tune of the politicians, especially the incumbents. For instance
in Kogi, before the election, the people and key PDP stalwarts did not support
the candidacy of Idris Wada. However, the APC should not have got that kind of
votes. And when that kind of thing happens, that is the loophole INEC takes
advantage of to the advantage of whoever it wants to support. People still buy
INEC and that is the truth. For instance in Lagos State, no other party win
except the APC.”
Sagay also alleged that all INEC officials in Lagos State are
under the payroll of a powerful politician and leader of the APC. “All the INEC officials in Lagos are on the payroll of someone who will ask you
what it takes to win. Someone who is ready to give you more than you ask for.
It is everywhere but it depends on who can spend more.”
He also did not spare the Department of State Service (DSS) and
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) saying the institutions
lack integrity.He said: “Immediately President Buhari got to Aso Rock, the EFCC
and DSS, as if they have not existed before, began to arrest and do all sort of
things.
“But if you look at it holistically, are they saying it is only
PDP governors and public office holders that are corrupt? No. One thing is that
they are doing whatever they are doing to please the President, who can hire
and fire them. Which of the governors out of the 36 States is not corrupt? So,
why is it that only PDP people are being chased up and down? The
anti-corruption crusade is being selective.”
Accusing President Buhari of lack of seriousness in his anti-corruption
campaign, he said all others in APC who are stealing should also be chased
adding that his party men will do a job meant for N50billion for N100billion.
“It is only then that the fight against corruption can be seen as
fair and balanced. When there is no equity and justice, people will begin to
doubt your integrity in whatever you are pursuing. “For instance, if we recall
1983 when Buhari/Idiagbon came to office, immediately they knew there was
corruption, they changed Nigerian currency so that all the people that had
stolen money and kept it at home had such rendered useless and all corrupt
officials were arrested.
“But you also have to remember that Ambrose Ali died in prison,
Adelakun who was deputy governor to Bola Ige died in prison, Olabisi Onabanjo
developed kidney problem in prison. Most of these people were Unity Party of
Nigeria (UPN) governors. But in whose house was N50million cash belonging to
the government found? That person was only given a house arrest, because he is
a Northerner. No Northerner was treated the way they treated the Southern
governors.
“That is why as much as I know President Buhari, his sincerity is
not total.
“If you remember the case of 53 suit cases, Abubakar Atiku was the Customs Officer in charge and it was through the back door that they used to bring in the suit cases to Nigeria. But they were intercepted; when Atiku wanted to make trouble about it, he was sacked by President Buhari and nothing was done.
“If you remember the case of 53 suit cases, Abubakar Atiku was the Customs Officer in charge and it was through the back door that they used to bring in the suit cases to Nigeria. But they were intercepted; when Atiku wanted to make trouble about it, he was sacked by President Buhari and nothing was done.
“Our anti-graft fight is cosmetic; we are not serious about it, I
must be sincere with you. What people don’t know is that APC is more corrupt,
they will defraud Nigerians more than the PDP.”
Comments
Post a Comment