A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of
the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has described
the ministerial list sent by General Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate as a
big disappointment to Nigeria and its citizens.
Frank, however asked the senate to prove that the 9th Assembly is not a
rubber stamp by rejecting 70-80 percent of the nominees base on their
record in public services.
The Bayelsa born activist said in a statement on Wedneaday that since
Buhari had told Nigerians beforehand that he would only nominate people
well known to him as ministers, the list now before the Senate is proof
to Nigerians and the international community that the President knows
and continues to associate with shady characters that have looted the
nation’s resources in the past.
Frank said: “The current ministerial list is a direct confirmation that
Buhari does not only court corrupt individuals but also wines and dines
with known corrupt personalities.
“It is clear that some prominent names on the list have at one time or
the other been guest of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to answer corruption charges while some still have pending
corruption cases in court.
“The ministerial list is a further confirmation of General Buhari’s
insincerity and incompetence. I make bold to say that there is indeed
no hope for Nigeria as long as Gen Buhari remains the President (albeit
illegally).
“If Buhari has any modicum of integrity as often claimed, most of the
names that populated his new ministerial list would by now be in jail.
However, he rewards and celebrate looters.
“Buhari must stop his pretense about fighting corruption. The list shows
that he is rather a collaborator and supporter of corruption and corrupt
persons in his government and the country.
“Were the Senate to patriotic and rightly guided by conscience, 70 – 80
per cent of the nominees would be rejected based on their incompetence
and past corruption records.
“However, Nigerians have lost confidence in the ability of 9th Senate to
act in the national interest since they have decided to assume the role
of a rubber stamp to the Executive since inception.
“I therefore appeal to the judiciary – as the hope of the common man –
to come to the aid of Nigeria and Nigerians to rescue us from this
unpatriotic gangs that are poised to take the country backwards.
“Let the judiciary be brave, stand for truth, justice and declare Alhaji
Atiku Abubarkar as the rightful winner of the last presidential
election, so he can come and rescue Nigeria from another four years of
retrogressive governance, brazen looting of resources, oppression and
harassment,” he said.