Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has dismissed the allegations making the rounds that the Tinubu administration is using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission (ICPC) as instruments of witch-hunting the opposition parties in the country.
He dismissed the allegations during the opening ceremony of the ICPC Roundtable Engagement on Agenda Setting for Strategic Integration of State Commissioners of Information in the Fight Against Corruption in Abuja.
The statement by the information minister is coming after a recent invitation extended to the immediate past Governor of Sokoto State and current senator representing Sokoto South Senatorial District, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Tambuwal, a former speaker of the House of Representatives and one of the leading political opposition figures, was later released on bail a day after his detention by the EFCC over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189 billion.
Idris also said the Tinubu administration maintained the policy of non-interference in the work of anti-graft institutions.
“Fighting corruption is indeed one of the 8-Point priorities of the Tinubu administration, and that is why the President is strengthening the institutional framework to fight corruption, especially through the ICPC and the EFCC. By its policy of non-interference, the Tinubu administration has made it clear that anti-corruption agencies are not instruments of political witch-hunt. They operate with independence and professionalism in line with the rule of law,” Idris said.
Speaking further, Idris however maintained President Tinubu’s position that there will be no safe haven for corruption in Nigeria.
The information minister said that the President is implementing far-reaching judicial reforms aimed at curbing unnecessary delays in corruption trials, ensuring that justice is neither denied nor endlessly deferred.
Idris noted that the theme of the roundtable, “Partnership for Strengthening Transparency and Accountability at State and Local Government Levels Through Strategic Communications,” amply justified the presence of all state commissioners of information, who have the onerous task of distilling and cascading information to other strata of the Nigerian society.
While saying that transparency and accountability constituted strong pillars of democracy and were unarguably at the core of President Tinubu’s grundnorm of administration, the minister urged state governments to set aside political partisanship and embrace the vast opportunities inherent in President Tinubu’s agenda, which is reshaping the economy to address years of neglect.
“I wish to implore you all, Honourable Commissioners, that irrespective of the political party you belong to, it is important you identify with the massive opportunities inherent in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, who is relentless in reshaping our economy to address years of neglect, and its limitations, and in turn achieve inclusion, diversification, growth and steady development,” Idris also said.
He also lauded the ICPC, under the chairmanship of Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, for its creative approach to development communication, which engages key stakeholders in the states and local government councils who are expected to communicate government policies to the grassroots.