President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman,
Mr. Femi Adesina, has opened up on reasons why members of the ruling
party, All Progressives Congress (APC) and appointees of his boss have
not been tried for alleged corruption. Adesina said this on a radio
programme, The Podium, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the weekend. He also
explained that the October 7-8 raid by the Department of State Services
(DSS) on the residences of some judges was not a declaration of war on
the Judiciary.
He, however, insisted the raids were
efforts to rid the country of corruption. Adesina also explained that
APC members and appointees were not being prosecuted for corruption
because of “lack of evidence” and added that anybody indicted of
corruption “will face prosecution, irrespective of his or her political
party.”
The presidential spokesman further
pointed out that the fact that a member of opposition Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) crosses over to APC does not provide automatic shield and
maintained that, “whoever is indicted will be prosecuted.”
Adesina also decried propaganda of ban
on rice importation. “Ban on rice importation via land borders was
placed so as to curtail smuggling and ensure revenue generation from
rice importation. Importation of rice via our sea borders remains
legal.”
Adesina noted that the Buhari-led
Federal Government is serious about diversification of the economy. “We
have got to the point in which we have to diversify or die. “Government
has disbursed money so as to heavily invest in agriculture and mining.”
On the raid on some judges by the DSS,
the Special Adviser remarked that “it was only a raid on corruption and
not the Judiciary. “Mr. President has said it all. No one is out to
intimidate the Judiciary.
The DSS raid was a raid on corruption
and not the Judiciary,” he insisted. A day earlier, the president
promised that his administration will rescue all persons abducted by
Boko Haram. Buhari said this against the backdrop of the release of
Maryam Ali Maiyanga, one of the abducted Chibok girls on April 14, 2014,
by Boko Haram.
Maryam was rescued with her 10-month-old
son and released to Borno State Government, after they were rescued in
Pulka, Gwoza Local Government Area. In series of tweets, at the weekend,
Buhari praised efforts of the Nigerian Army in rescuing Maryam, one of
the 219 girls abcuted two years ago.
On his Twitter handle, president Buhari
commended the troops for their “gallant efforts to secure the people and
territory of Nigeria” and described them as the nation’s heroes. “I
commend our troops who continue to work gallantly to secure the people
and territory of Nigeria. You are our heroes.
“No man, woman, or child will be left at
the mercy of Boko Haram. This has always been our promise and we fully
intend to keep it,’’ he said.
Major General and Commander of the 7
Division of army in Maiduguri, Lucky Irabor announced Maryam’s release
in Maiduguri, at the weekend. The Federal Government had, last month,
negotiated the release of 21 other girls while another, Amina, escaped
from insurgents’ captivity with her baby, earlier. Unlike Maryam, Amina
escaped from Boko Haram with her husband, Mohammed.
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