In a Sunday
statement by Mr Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the presidency described
such statements as ‘baseless.’
“The fact that these
baseless and appallingly mischievous attacks can freely be aired is itself
evidence of the right to freedom of expression prevailing in the country
today,” Mr Shehu said in the statement.
Mr Shehu also
appeared on Channels Television‘s Sunday politics where he reiterated his
stance.
He argued that some
“wrongdoings that are detected within the present government are always
addressed” without causing national embarrassment.
“There is no
disorganisation in the Buhari government. His manner of doing things should be
clear to Nigerians… President Buhari is not a micro-manager,” he said.
Read the Sunday
statement released by Mr Shehu below.
STATE HOUSE PRESS
RELEASE
PRESIDENT BUHARI’S
CRITICS SHOULD APPRECIATE DUE PROCESS
The Presidency
wishes to respond to a number of opinion articles and a stringent newspaper
editorial this Sunday, which outrageously said President Muhammadu Buhari was
not in control of his administration.
As many detractors
have done lately, these “influencers,” “celebrated columnists” and “editorial
comments” do no more than endorse the opposition’s utterly wrong and fallacious
position that the President is not in charge of his government.
Sometimes, we are
forced to wonder whether some writers are mindful of the implication of words
for the strategic and territorial interests of the nation.
An entrenched
culture of dissent in our country is not something that anyone, not least a
Buhari Presidency wants to stamp down.
The fact that these
baseless and appallingly mischievous attacks can freely be aired is itself
evidence of the right to freedom of expression prevailing in the country today.
Whether it is
Ibrahim Magu, Godswill Akpabio, NDDC, NSITF and the others, Nigerians are bound
to hold differing opinions, write letters, opinion columns, editorials and even
stage lawful protests.
What is sometimes
worrisome is that several of these comments, disguised as objective criticisms
are merely speaking the language of the opposition-the people who ruined the
country during their 16 years of corruption on an industrial scale.
These detractors
pick up isolated issues like the ones in the EFCC, NDDC, and incidents of crime
and corruption which have been with the country for years, and without any
serious effort to uncover them, paint them a phenomena orchestrated and
happening because President Buhari’s administration has decided to pursue cases
of suspected wrongdoing in the anti-corruption agency, pension funds, NDDC and
other government agencies.
But the government
was the first to point out the obvious embarrassment that potential acts of
wrongdoing by the EFCC leadership would cause the administration. The question
to ask is: did they expect the President to draw a curtain over these suspected
scandals by not ordering audits and investigations? And for them to turn around
to accuse him of a cover up?
To do a cover up and
not order audits and investigations as the President did would amount to a
historic betrayal of the mandate and the faith placed in him by the Nigerian
people.
President Buhari’s
integrity, uprightness and probity are intact and well known. Let us remind
these so-called editorial writers that ECOWAS, Africa Union and the
international community at large recognized President Buhari as Champion of the
Anti-Corruption fight in Africa.
Nigerians are
convinced that he is honest. They voted for him as President against the
background of corruption, public policy paralysis and growing menace of
terrorists threatening to take over a sizable portion of the nation’s
territory. In his five years in office, there is not a single charge of
corruption against his person.
As the leader of the
country, President Buhari fully understands and bears the full weight of the
solemn oaths he swore to defend the nation’s constitution, its citizens and
territory. Disinformation is not a viable option for opposition. The Buhari
government has done nothing to warrant these criticisms. Under our laws, you
are innocent until proven guilty: Investigation, trial then conviction. Not the
other way round. To carry out investigations before condemnation or conviction
should not be misconstrued as a weakness or a vacuum in leadership.
The war against
corruption is today at historic crossroads. This is the time all Nigerians
should stand together to roll it back. President Buhari is determined not to be
diverted by unfounded attacks, neither would he compromise the sacred mandate
of Nigerians. He is determined to get justice for Nigerians on all these
corruption cases being pursued.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special
Assistant to the President
(Media &
Publicity)
July 19, 2020
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