By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has advised Nigerians against taking the United Kingdom lawmaker seriously who alleged that former head of state, Yakubu Gowon stole half of Nigeria’s central bank.
Nigerians, especially the young, have been feasting on the comment of the lawmaker, Tom Tugendhat, as proof that stealing in Nigeria runs deep.
Gowon was ousted in a bloodless coup masterminded by Murtala Mohammed in 1975, with the aid of his kinsman and head of presidential guard, Joe Garba.
He lived in exile in England, and while in university, he queued up for meals in school cafeteria with other students.
During debate in the U.K. parliament on what sanctions to impose for the Nigerian officials who muzzled the #EndSARS protesters, Tugendhat said: “We need to call out the corruption (in Nigeria). We need to use the powers that we have in this country to stop those who are profiting from the wealth of that great nation and hiding it here.
“Now, some people would remember when General Gowon left Nigeria with half of the Central Bank, so it is said, and moved to London. We know that today, even now in this great city of ours, there are, sadly some people who have taken from the Nigerian people hidden their illegal gains here. We know that our banks, sadly have been used for that profit, and for that illegal transfer of assets. And that means the UK is in a unique position to actually do something to really exert pressure on those who have robbed the Nigerian people,” he said.
Even when the U.K. lawmaker offered no proof, young Nigerians have used the claim to mourn the state of corruption in Nigeria on the social media.
But Adesina warned: “Be careful of misinformation! H.E. General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State, is a man of great honour, decency, honesty, amazing simplicity, humility and integrity. I know him. A great and admirable elder statesman of Nigeria. His honesty and integrity are impeccable.”