Nigeria, Sept., 05, 2016 – A group, Salvage for Development Initiative (SDI) has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari over what it described as poor economic performance since he resumes power, saying that the war against corruption is nothing but a failure since no suspect has been jailed to prove the sincerity of the anti-corruption war.
The group made this known through its Executive Directive, Peter Ajayi, at a Press Conference held in Lagos, today, saying that after over 15 months in office of Buhari, his report card as President is full of indictment.
” Nothing has changed for the better in the lives of our people. Poverty has increased. Unemployment is off the chart. Hunger roams about like hungry lion and continues to devour our people with no end in sight. The basic amenities of life – food, water, electricity, and good roads remain elusive as ever. Our people are in constant fear and worries. They are hell scared of today and tomorrow on how to make ends meet”
SDI explained that although under Former President Jonathan, the country was plundered and soaked in a dirge of doom, stressing that Nigerians believed Buhari would set his compass on the mandate received from the Nigerian people and follow through with unshakable determination to guarantee peace, prosperity, and ensure the wrath of the law falls upon everyone in the country without sentiment.
“The Jonathan years witnessed a once-mighty nation staggering on the brink of collapse. The evil of corruption and other ancient evils – poverty, disease, hunger, fear, insecurity, indiscriminate killings, abduction, kidnapping, political assassination, and other vestiges of barbarism had permeated every segment of our national life: homes, institutions, professions, businesses, churches, mosques, shrines, youths, the elderly, politicians, prophets, and priests”, said SDI.
The group stated “We believe Buhari’s administration is tainted with nepotism. He should address the glaring issues of favoritism in the recruitment exercises conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other federal agencies. He should address the improprieties leveled against his Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and the Army Chief of Staff, General Tukur Buratai. Leadership not rooted in justice will go down in flames”.
SDI lamented “If the President fails to act speedily, he will lose the war on corruption. Meanwhile, losing the war on corruption is as good as losing the trust and confidence reposed on him by the Nigerians. We will not forgive him if he loses the war. People’s patience is dying by the day on the extremely slow pace of things in Nigeria. Anxiety and confusion have replaced hope and optimism. Issues of power and corruption are good examples that readily come to mind”.
“Till now, no one has been convicted for corruption. Where are those who have personally confessed to the corruption charges leveled against them, where are those who have refunded part of the funds embezzled, where are those who have pleaded to settle out of court, where are those that buried millions of foreign currencies in their farm land and even in the their soak away? Those who are supposed to be serving at different prisons are still walking freely in the land. What has suddenly happened to the anti-corruption promises made by the Mr President? What a Shame”, said SDI.
The group said that the justice department needs a reformist Attorney General to revolutionize the department and straighten things out, stating further that the President is too aloof to what goes on in the justice department and National Assembly.
“The Attorney General is very incompetent in our view. The justice department needs a reformist Attorney General to revolutionize the department and straighten things out. The President is too aloof to what goes on in the justice department and The National Assembly.
The President must be involved. He must take up the gauntlet and fight the enemies of Nigeria. He must give marching orders to his Attorney General to move things faster. He must challenge the courts to stop aiding and abetting the thieves by unnecessary delays in disposing cases”, said SDI
