ABUJA – Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, CNPP, has accused General Abdulsalam Abubakar, retd, led National Peace Committee, NPC, of plotting to dampen the raging momentum of war against corruption being waged by President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.
The CNPP stated this while reacting to a statement credited to the spokesman of the Peace Committee, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, on the style of the administration’s war against graft, which it described “scary blackmail”.
National Publicity Secretary of CNPP, Mr. osita Okechukwu, said the umbrella body of registered political parties was outraged over the subtle and scary blackmail by the body to wittingly or unwittingly dampen the raging momentum of anti-graft war of this regime.
Okechukwu insisted that, “For us, the war against corruption is being waged in accordance with the spirit and letters of the law; therefore let the momentum of war against corruption continue.”
According to him, “We sincerely believe with time the War Against Corruption will touch even unintended persons, groups and quarters; with the impeccable antecedent of Mr President. Let the music play on as looters have nowhere to hide.
“CNPP had carefully perused the mandate of the National Peace Committee and could not locate where the issue of stolen fund featured; therefore we are at loss why they skipped their brief.
“We are worried now that the committee has been allowed to continue to do what only God knows, especially with the scary blackmail statement of the spokesman of the Peace Committee, our revered Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Grace, Matthew Hassan Kukah,
“Again our commitment is not to intimidate or fight anybody. The former president’s commitment and I think what he did still remains spectacular and I think that President Buhari appreciates that’
“It is our candid view that why more Nigerian voters voted for President Buhari than for our dear ex-president, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR; is simply the confidence the voters had in the integrity and transparency quotient of Mr President.
“In other words, the Social Contract between President Buhari and Nigerians is to wage strident war against corruption, and return stolen funds for the development of our dilapidated social and physical infrastructure.
“More so this is the backbone of the change mantra, as stipulated in the All Progressives Congress’s Manifesto and commitment President Buhari made in the course of the presidential campaign. It is a debt and a bond.
“On the spectacular performance of our former president, we agree with Bishop Kukah that conceding defeat in primitive climes like ours is noble; however the crass, pervasive and unbridled corruption which took place under Dr Jonathan’s watch is more heinous. To protect him smacks of intimidation.
“The Jonathan regime like the previous ones since our return to civil rule in 1999 defied the timeless African tradition, which admonishes leaders not to steal and if they are tempted to do so, that they should steal in such a manner that the owners will not know.
“They looted as if there is no tomorrow, and as if Nigerians are fools; that today we are impoverished, despondent and hapless in the midst of unprecedented oil revenue.
“Accordingly, for any group as highly placed as the National Peace Committee to resort to subtle and scary blackmail to subvert and dampen this momentum of war against corruption is to say the least – unkind cut if not ungodly cut”.
