Anti-graft War: Group accuses Buhari of targeting Southerners

By Onitsha Shedrack,-Delta—-

 

A group in the Niger Delta, Ijaw Development People’s Initiative (IDPL) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being selective in his anti-corruption fight, adding that the war of corruption is targeted at politicians mostly from the southern Nigeria.

The group in a press statement signed by its president, Mr. Austin Ozobo, and Comrade Daniel Ezekiel, its spokesperson, stated that in as much as they support the anti-corruption fight  of the president, they will however not accept selective fight  which will appear as a witch-hunt of perceived enemies.

The group condemned what the alleged removal of the Chief of Army staff, Ltd. Gen. Tukur Burutai’ name from the list of those allegedly indicted in the arms deal probe even when he was the director of arms procurement under former military chiefs Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah and Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika as chiefs of army staff.

The group also alleged that the anti-graft war has taken selective dimension which is very worrisome alleging that the arms scandal probe is being twisted to witch-hunt perceived political enemies.

According to them; “It baffles us (Ijaw Development People’s Initiative), the ethnic and religious colouration attach to anti-graft war. This is unacceptable. People of South South and South East are being openly demonized through media trial while others from Northern part of the country being removed clandestinely.

“Most annoying is that Gen. Buratai was indicted in the panel’s report, but was utterly removed by the hawks in presidency, while those perceived enemies from the south-south and south east were indicted and condemned by all and sundry.

“Under Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah and Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika as chiefs of army staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai worked as procurement director, and he was in charge of buying of arms for Nigerian military, with this fact well established,  what yard stick was used to exonerating such person from this billion dollars  fraud?

“We believe it is not only wickedness, but outright bigotry which a lot of people have accused Mr. President of thrown decency and caution into the wind by given Gen. Tukur Buratai a clean bill because he is from northern part of the country.

The group also wondered why Buratai is giving clean bill; “while his predecessors from south should face the firing squared. Is this how we should fight corruption? This is a regional and political witch-hunt orchestrated by President Buhari.

“How can Buratai escape justice when he was the man in charge of purchase of fire arms under Minimah and Ihejirika, when common aides of affected corruption leaders are made to undergo trial?

They also noted that this type of brazen nepotism is a recipe that can heat up the polity.”

The group stated further that Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah being an illustrious son of Ijaw nation, served the country meritoriously should be allow to defend himself in a competent court of law, instead of propaganda being churned out by agencies of this government to discredit him for political reason