A former Governor of the old Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, says President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war is too slow, adding that the President should have arrested at least 30 ex-governors and some former ministers by now.
The former governor said this during an interview with our correspondent on Tuesday.
When asked if Buhari’s anti-corruption war was partisan as alleged by the Peoples Democratic Party, Balarabe said the concern of every Nigerian should be if those accused of corruption are guilty or not.
He said only four ex-governors had been quizzed by anti-graft agencies since Buhari took over in May and it was not enough to conclude that the anti-corruption war was skewed in favour of the All Progressives Congress.
He said, “I will not bring politics into this matter. Anybody who is alleged to be corrupt should be dealt with regardless of tribe or party affiliation. I don’t care if the accused person is from the PDP or the APC. The law must take its course.
“I cannot say the anti-corruption war is skewed in favour of the APC because a lot of people have not yet been arrested. I think only three or five ex-governors have been arrested. As far as the anti-corruption campaign is concerned, at least 30 ex-governors and ex-ministers should have been arrested.
“This is because the system is such that virtually every leader is a thief. It is difficult not to be a thief under this system. So, the anti-corruption war should be holistic. At least 30 ex-officials should be facing trial. We cannot say the anti-graft war is selective when less than five ex-governors and ministers have been arrested.
“So, partisanship should not be brought into this. The moment a person is accused and there is evidence against him, he should be dealt with.”
Also speaking with our correspondent, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), said an allegation of witch-hunt could never protect an accused person in court.
He, therefore, urged all politicians accusing the Buhari administration of witch-hunt to go to court and answer the charges levelled against them.
The PDP had said Buhari was only going after ex-PDP governors while other ex-governors of the APC accused of corruption like Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State were given political appointments.
However Agbakoba said the concern of members of the public should be if those accused of corruption are guilty or not.
He said, “If a particular person is picked up, the crucial question should not be whether he is in the PDP or the APC. The crucial issue should be if there is something against him.
“If you are guilty, a cry of witch-hunt cannot save you. The issue should be whether you are guilty or not. So, every Nigerian who has a case to answer should go and do so. We don’t want this smokescreen of witch-hunt.”
Agbakoba, however, urged the President to ensure that his anti-graft war is transparent and fair so that no one would have an excuse.
He added, “In law, you cannot put up a defence of witch-hunt. However, I have always said that the anti-corruption war should be done in such a way that it would not seem like a witch-hunt. Even though a witch-hunt is not a defence, it is better for people to see that the process is transparent so that anyone who is involved irrespective of party is brought to book.”
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