My Association With Ganduje Does Not Diminish My War Against Corruption – Buhari Tells Nigerians

My Association With Ganduje Does Not Diminish My War Against Corruption – Buhari Tells Nigerians

President Buhari has dismissed claims that his association with
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano has diminished his commitment to the
war against corruption. In a statement released by his media aide, Garba
Shehu, President Buhari said that there is a difference between
perception and reality.

According to the statement, which followed comments after the
proclamation by President Buhari of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje as the
governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, President
Buhari cited a number of high profile prosecution of senior government
officials that a former Secretary to the Government and a former state
governor who is a party member and now serving term in jail as
indications of will and determination to wage the anti-corruption war
without fear or favour.

The statement also added that the Executive Secretary of the National
Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf, is currently on
administrative leave as part of President Buhari’s commitment to
transparency and accountability.

The statement explained that despite some of the suspects being close
to the President, he had not shielded them from investigation,
administrative suspensions and prosecution.

The Presidency added that it is sheer mischief to suggest that
President Buhari is shielding anybody because of their closeness to him,
explaining that no official under this administration would go
unpunished once they break the law.

On the specific issue of Governor Ganduje of Kano State, the
statement noted that Dr. Ganduje, as a sitting Governor, enjoys immunity
from prosecution in his own right. Furthermore, under Nigerian laws, a
suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

In the circumstances, the matter is in court and the President has no
power to dictate to the court or the Kano State House of Assembly,
which is already investigating the matter, about what to do with the
allegations against Ganduje.

The Presidency added that it is unfair to ignore the larger picture
of the President’s major successes in the war against corruption,
including blocking leakages of corruption, which in turn, boosted
government revenues.

The statement challenged President Buhari’s critics to prove that
those facing corruption allegations are innocent, adding that the
President’s zero tolerance for corruption has boosted and remarkably
improved Nigeria’s image in the eyes of world leaders.