Chief Modestus Umenzekwe, a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in this interview takes a deep look at the anti-graft stand of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Administration and passes a verdict of commendation on the government. He also speaks on other national issues. CYRIACUS NNAJI WAS THERE. Excerpts:
First of all, people say the reason why Nigeria is where it is today, in terms of development, economy, is because of corruption in the Nigerian system, we want to find out, what do you think is the cause of so much corruption in the Nigerian system?
Well, that question is a bit difficult to answer. This is because some of what we call corruption, in the end may not necessarily be considered as corruption by the time such are subjected to the crucible of the law. Many a time people are accused of corruption without verifiable or empirical evidence and that is why most of the time when those saddled with prosecution of alleged corrupt officials take the suspects to the court, the court after due consideration dismisses such cases. Recall also that many a time people write petitions based on contracts that are awarded but they do not know the content of such contracts and what it entails, they just write petitions to the law enforcement agencies with insufficient knowledge, and such cannot stand the test of the scrutiny of the law.
Again we look at corruption only when we are talking about those in government, no. In as much as I would not say there is no corruption in the system, such interpretation should also extend to what people do at both community level, government level, and even places of worship, Nigerians must be accountable, we must be transparent in whatever we do, that is the only way, Nigeria can be free from corruption. This is because it is from this micro spaces that people are thrown up to become state or national leaders at one point or the other, and if you have been corrupt at that micro level, there is no way you would become a saint at the macro level overnight.
But what do you think is responsible for such high rate of the anti-graft agency losing some of their cases at the law court?
Some of these cases are jettisoned at the court due to the insufficient evidence, the inability of the ant-graft agencies to investigate these cases properly before prosecuting the suspects and when they get to the court, the court discard them for lack of merit and all that. More so some of these cases arise from vindictive petitions and the court as the last hope of the common man would definitely vindicate the person that is accused of corruption. But then, we must commend the Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), without these two agencies, corruption would have swallowed up this country.
So far can you say that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing enough on issue of corruption?
President Tinubu’s anti-corruption posture is evidently clear and unambiguous for all to see. There is no one in this country that would not be happy with what the President is doing to sanitise the polity from corruption, first thing is his intention to make corruption a thing of the past. Other past governments, what they usually do was to shield members of that government or party, it is another government of another party that used to even try to look at the activities of their predecessors. Some time they don’t prosecute their members so as not to incur bad name for the party. But, you see, as soon as President Tinubu came to power, a very commendable novel practice was introduced, the trajectory, the dynamics of anti-graft war changed. If you are a corrupt official and you find your way into the government of Tinubu, be sure your days are numbered. It is not boasting, Tinubu warned his ministers at inception that there is zero tolerance for corruption in his government, and he also told them that he would assess them every six months, please crosscheck, that means if he finds you culpable, if you are corrupt or there is dereliction of duty on your part, you would be sacked and he would not end there, you would face the law.
You are a living witness, how he suspended Beta Edu, they are still investigating her, because Tinubu, as a democrat would allow you access to defend yourself. You would not be maltreated but you would face the law. Of course the suspension and investigation of Beta Edu, is indicative that there are no scared cows in the anti-corruption war of Tinubu-led government. Another case that is fresh in our minds is that of Yahaya Bello, the immediate past governor of Kogi State, who I learnt, is being accused of embezzling N80billion of Kogi funds is being requested to make himself available for questioning. Former Aviation Minister, Honourable Hadi Abubakar Sirika, is facing N8billion charges over Air Nigeria scandal. If you put your hand in the public till in Nigeria now, you would face the music, don’t pay any solidarity visit to the president, it will not work.
You see, when the President was campaigning, he was unequivocal in stating that he is ready to work. Ironically the naysayers continued to doubt him, some said he was sick, but today the whole thing is history. While people were away enjoying he quickly returned to Abuja and started work immediately. Just the first week of the year he indefatigably carried out commendable official assignments never seen before in the annals of this country
He signed the budget; he suspended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, and Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme Agency, Hajiya Halimotu Shehu, for alleged financial misdemeanors. He banned the money-for-degree universities in Benin Republic, Togo and other countries; embarked on the clearing of the N12billion outstanding allowances and other arrears for the Super Eagles, the same with arrears owed other national teams were also paid by the President.
The government has earlier started the payment of wage support benefits to civil servants, the disbursement of N105.5 billion for 266 road repairs, the coastal road from Lagos to Calabar, don’t mind the naysayers and their unfounded criticisms.
President Tinubu has approved the launch of Consumer Credit Scheme (CCS) for workers across the country; with initial take-off fund of N100billion, with this, workers in the country can apply for loan, it will also afford them the convenience of easy repayment of such loans. The launch of the automated passport portal and the unfolding of plans to build a new Chinese-funded plant in Nigeria which was hatched during the visit to China by the Minister of Steel Development, Shuaib Abubakar Audu. The students’ loan scheme has been signed into law; of course you read that over 1.4million students have applied.
Tinubu also cut the cost of governance by drastically reducing the number of people in his entourage on local and international trips. He also directed that the top government functionaries, dignitaries and aides on his travels be slashed by 60 per cent, more than half. He ordered that in the area of security, his team should rely more on the capacity of the security establishment and existing protocols in the host states.
The importance of cutting the number in the President’s travels, apart from reduction in total cost of the trip, first, it is in agreement with the difficulties of the present time when prices of goods and services have gone up owing to what many tie to the prevalent foreign exchange rate, of course you have seen that Forex is coming down on daily basis.
More so, by slashing the presidential entourage, President Tinubu has of course demonstrated leadership by example. He has shown he fully understands what the people are experiencing at present and shares in their pains, which he says will be temporary. It is already manifesting in the prices of things coming down, the forex, aviation and diesel prices crashing, rice is gradually coming down, things will get better, I believe so.
There is no gain saying the fact that, the cost of governance in Nigeria is high and it has become imperative to bring down this cost. Every possible avenue must be deployed to do this. According to the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the President, Tunde Rahman, recently, it is estimated that the country mostly spends over 75% of her federal budget on recurrent expenditure, leaving less than 25% for capital expenditure. The present administration is set to change this governance narrative. For instance, in the N28.7trillion 2024 budget, recurrent expenditure was pegged at N8.7tr and capital expenditure at N9.9tr. Of course, there is every tendency that this trend is expected to continue for the betterment of the nation’s economy.
Are you saying it is now Uhuru, that Nigeria is now an Eldorado?
I am not saying that but with President Tinubu’s stance on ant-graft battle, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) will grow, Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) will grow, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow, I am sure with what the executive arm is doing the legislature and judiciary have no excuse than to key into his ant-graft stance. I know it is not yet Uhuru, but President Tinubu’s anti-graft stand on government officials both current and those who have served out their tenures is very commendable and that is the only way people can be transparent, accountable and diligent in their assigned responsibilities. I said it is not yet Uhuru because he still has seven years to go. Right now it is evident that he knows where he is going, where he is taking Nigeria to, unlike before.
