Colonel Umar's Attacks Won't Weaken Anti-Graft War - Presidency

The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to a statement by former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Colonel Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), in which he 

accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of being unfair in the war against corruption.

By now, President Buhari's administration is quite familiar with the barrage of verbal attacks that have accompanied the administration's determined war against corruption. A number of Nigeria's elite, uncomfortable with the disruption of business as usual, have fought viciously, usually via the media. However, this comment, coming from, Colonel Umar, is highly disappointing. Because he is not in a position to label accusations. He should, instead, allow other to do this.

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.

Ultimately, the final frontier of the war against corruption is the judiciary. After the anti-graft agencies have gathered proof of corruption and made arrests, they present the accused before competent courts of the land, who have the final say on who is guilty of corruption and who is not. President Buhari has never interfered with the judicial process, despite publicly expressing his frustration with how slowly corruption cases are handled. Saharareporters that Again, anyone with a shred of evidence to the contrary is encouraged to go public with it.

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.

According to saharareporters,  this was issued in a press release  by the  presidential spokesman Garba Shehu.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity

Abuja

24 April 2017