Specifically,
the group said in a statement by its Chairman, Austin Braimoh, and Secretary,
Cassidy Madueke, that government could build six world-class airports in each
geo-political zone with part of the funds.
the Buhari
Media Support Group (BMSG) on Thursday in Abuja, said the stolen funds
traced
to former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, could fund infrastructure
development in the country.
Specifically,
the group said in a statement by its Chairman, Austin Braimoh, and Secretary,
Cassidy Madueke, that government could build six world-class airports in each
geo-political zone with part of the funds.
It said that
the recovered loot was also enough to have funded agricultural projects that
would have generated employment for Nigerian youths.
It added
that the N47.2 billion and 487.5 million dollars in cash and property traced to
Alison-Madueke by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissison (EFCC) were
also enough to complete the Lagos-Kano and Lagos-Calabar rail lines.
It recalled
that the Federal Government was already seeking loans for the rail projects.
The group
called on Nigerians to join hands to condemn the massive looting of the
nation’s treasury by officials of previous administrations.
It expressed
belief that the loot traced to the former minister was a “far cry’’ from what
she and others in the past governments pilfered from the national treasury.
According to
it, these monies stashed in foreign accounts forced the Nigerian economy to
suffer instant depression.
The group
recalled that Mrs. Madueke and her associates, including Kola Aluko, Jide
Omokore, were currently being tried by the US government for allegedly
laundering over 1.7 billion dollars.
It urged
Nigerians to have a collective resolve to fight what it described as “psychotic
and mindless" type of looting exhibited by indicted government officials
in their days in government.
This, it
said, could halt the craving to loot public treasury by government officials.
The group
reminded Nigerians that though the fight against corruption was the foremost
policy thrust of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, “the fight might
not attain maximum result unless Nigerians willingly resolve to join in it’’.
“This
synergy is necessary so as to fight the art of looting and other forms of
mismanagement in government."
It stated
that all concerned Nigerians should be organising widespread protests to
condemn looting of government funds by officials, past and present, as often
revealed by the anti-graft agencies.
It advised
that Nigerians should also stop dissipating energies on attacking Buhari, “the
main fighter of corruption" over his health challenge.
The group
commended anti-graft agencies, particularly EFCC, for their sustained efforts
in exposing corruption in Nigeria.
It appealed
to the agencies not to give up but to ensure the prosecution of culprits
looting of the nation’s treasury.
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