The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Senate to show more credibility with its ministerial screening by sending the names of the nominees to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement, the screening exercise should enable the Senate to identify some nominees presented to it by President Muhammadu Buhari to include individuals, who are facing allegations of corruption, abuse of office and stealing of public funds hanging on their necks.
“The PDP notes that the nomination of persons with corruption badges to serve in the federal cabinet has overtly established the fact that President Buhari not only condones but also explicitly promotes corruption, which has escalated into a state art since he assumed office in 2015″.
“This is particularly as President Buhari had asserted that he would only nominate persons he knows personally”.
“It therefore, speaks volumes that the persons Mr President “personally” knows and has nominated as ministers include such individuals that have been publicly indicted and known to be answering questions as accomplices in on-going corruption cases in various courts.”
The PDP also called on the Senate to identify some of the nominees who have failed to defend their corruption allegations pending in court.
“The PDP calls on the Senate to note that some of the nominees have failed to defend their corruption allegations. This includes a particular former minister from the North Central, who had admitted to the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) of complicity in the N2.5 billion National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) fraud case, still pending in court”.
“This is in addition to certain nominees who, as state governors, swindled their states, fleeced workers and committed several financial crimes for which they should rather be standing trial, instead of being rewarded with official protection as ministers”.
“Our party notes that the gathering of corrupt persons as cabinet ministers is a clear pointer to a scheme by the cabal in the Presidency to further entrench corruption in our nation”.
“The PDP also invites the Senate to note that President Buhari has not demonstrated any commitment to the fight against corruption and for that reason, Nigerians now look up to the National Assembly to protect the nation from the excesses of the Buhari Presidency,” the party said.
The party urged the Senate to, “take a cursory look into the allegations of bribe-for-ministerial-slot, making the rounds in the public space, the PDP said the Senate must rise to the occasion and ensure that Nigerians are not totally let down.”
