Edu’s saga, a major test for Tinubu’s administration - AA
Vernimbe said that the incident was an opportunity for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to prove to Nigerians that it was ready to fight corruption.
The Action Alliance (AA) says the alleged diversion of N585million by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Betta Edu, is a major test for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Mr James Vernimbe, the AA National Secretary, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.
Vernimbe said that the incident was an opportunity for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to prove to Nigerians that it was ready to fight corruption.
“The Action Alliance commends the government for suspending Mrs Betty Edu over the alleged diversion of N585million poverty alleviation funds. This is commendable.
“However, the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, should also be suspended for his involvement in the alleged siphoning of N438m funds meant for the masses under the guise of consultancy and verification.
“His company benefitted from the bazaar, though he has denied saying he is no longer a board member, that he is only a shareholder and that he resigned about four years ago.
“But for the purpose of transparency, the president should also suspend him and allow for an independent investigation into the N438million awarded to his company for consultancy fee for unsubstantiated verification of households in the country,’’ he said.
He added: “Every person that will be mentioned during the investigation and other indicted persons in the alleged diversion of the N585.18 million should be investigated and prosecuted.
“The Tinubu administration should reassure Nigerians of its political will to fight corruption and protect its integrity at all cost by ensuring that guilty persons in this case are prosecuted.”
He urged the president to ensure that looted funds were recovered and channeled into programmes that would directly improve the lives of the masses.
Vernimbe urged the media to play key role in the fight against corruption by mainstreaming corrupt practices and alleged offenders.
He said that those whose names were mentioned should not be allowed to continue to grant media interviews with the aim of distracting investigations exonerating themselves from blames.
He urged individuals who were indicted to willfully turn-in themselves to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a thorough investigation without any fear of intimidation.