Buhari ‘personally’ knows Gov who steals funds. What does he do with the knowledge?
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Muhammadu Buhari is a marksman. He knows how to fight, if he wants to, and he is doggedly washing his hands off monumental poverty in the North by testifying of his “personal experience” of a Governor who steals public funds.
“It’s a terrible thing,” he moaned, but did not say he did anything with the knowledge – like reporting the case to the graft busters for investigation pending when the Governor would be prosecuted after leaving office.
He first sent out a surrogate on Wednesday to deny responsibility for the 133 million languishing in poverty – 65 per cent or 86 million of them in the North – weeks after the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stunned everyone with the report.
Budget and National Planning Minister Clem Agba, who did the talking, blamed Governors for Nigeria’s status as the poverty capital of the world, saying they execute white elephant projects, rather than improving the lives of people.
“Governors focus on building gigantic projects such as flyovers, airports etc that are visible in the state capitals, rather than building roads that would halt post harvest losses for the farmers,” Agba said in Abuja.
He cited the fact 72 per cent of the poor live in rural communities and accused Governors of paying little attention to the grassroots.
Buhari took it up from there on Thursday at the Villa during a meeting with members of Senior Executive Course No. 44 (SEC 44) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos.
His words: “I found it necessary to digress after reading my speech and this digression is a result of my personal experience.
“What they did, this is my personal experience, if the money from the Federation Account to the state is about N100 million, N50 million will be sent to the [local government] Chairman, but he will sign that he received N100 million.
“The Governor will pocket the balance and share it with whoever he wants to share it with.
‘‘And then the Chairman of the local government must see how much he must pay salaries, and to hell with development. When he pays the salaries of the big men, the balance he will put in his pocket.
‘‘This is what’s happening. This is Nigeria. It’s a terrible thing; you cannot say the person who was doing this is not educated. He was a qualified lawyer, he was experienced, yet he participated in this type of corruption.”
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Building back trust the government and the governed
“So, it’s a matter of conscience, whichever level we find ourselves.
“As a leader, you sit here, with all the sacrifices the country is making by putting you through institutions and getting you ready to lead. The fundamental thing is personal integrity. May God help us,” Buhari said, per The PUNCH.
He pledged his administration would “painstakingly” consider for implementation the recommendations in the paper presented by the 89 participants in SEC 44.
He said the government has done a lot to build trust between it and the people, and the report would provide direction to deliver good governance to the grassroots to win back their trust.
‘‘It is obvious that the government cannot afford to pay lip service to the recommendations contained in this report.
‘‘I assure you that the report will be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves. The government will study the report with a view to implementing the carefully detailed recommendations.
‘‘The quality of the presentation, and the confidence with which they were made, strongly attests to the quality of training the participants received during the course.
“I congratulate you for justifying the confidence and trust reposed in each and every one of you by your respective nominations. I am also happy with the knowledge and discipline you have all openly demonstrated.
“I have been briefed on the rigorous training process you all underwent at Kuru. Your graduation, therefore, is well deserved.’’
