Anti-graft War Will Be Priority Of Ministers — SGF

The office of the secretary to the government of the federation (OSGF) has said that the incoming ministers will focus attention on the current administration’s avowed resolve to combat corruption. The senior special adviser on political matters to the SGF, Engineer Babachir Lawal, Hon. Gideon Sammani, at the weekend in Abuja assured the incoming ministers of a harmonious working relationship from the SGF’s office towards advancing the fight against corruption in the country.

He noted that the incoming cabinet members were already aware of Buhari’s strong desire to revive the national economy, starting with the fight against corruption.

Leadership report continues:

“The present government is giving priority attention to the fight against corruption, insecurity and the task of rebuilding the economy. We see in the nominees so far screened abilities to help Mr President live up to this dream. In no time, and with expected commitment by all government officials, our economy will bounce back with integrity restored in the manner the government conducts its businesses. Our hope of a better tomorrow is high, while the SGF office will lead in the task of restoring the hope,” he said.

Sammani, who spoke at the side lines of a special reception and thanksgiving service organized in honour of the SGF at the International Conference Centre in Abuja on Saturday, said the SGF had already indicated his resolve to lead in the fight against corruption and hence will mobilize the cabinet members to be anti-corruption crusaders.

He noted that the nominees so far screened by the Senate had proved their competence and ability to assist in driving the desire of the government towards re-inventing governance and re-building Nigeria.

Sammani noted that the OSGF was impressed with the display of knowledge, discipline, experience and capacity exhibited by the incoming ministers during their screening, saying such qualities would assist President Buhari in realizing his dream of putting Nigeria back on track.

Sammani further said Nigeria should rejoice in the government of President Buhari with the preparedness of the president to live by example.

Said he, “I started respecting the President during the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign in Lagos when he (President) refrained from joining co-contestants in spraying dollars to win delegates’ votes.

“When they came to him, he told the delegates that, dollars or Naira, he never got, but that he was only offering himself as a sacrifice for reviving Nigeria. Since he retired from the army as a general, the Buhari I know has been living on pension.

“If Buhari could live by example, others around him will do so and this will form the basis for evolution of the Nigeria of our dream.

“What we will have now is a cabinet people by team players who will work with a common goal of putting Nigeria back on track. We all have to join in the struggle.”

Ministerial Screening: Ms Abubakar faces Senate committee today

–Report on Amaechi to be laid tomorrow

The petition written against Ms Aisha Abubakar as ministerial nominee from Sokoto State by a coalition of women from the state will be treated today by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu (PDP,Imo East), who disclosed this yesterday, said the committee would have in audience today both Ms Abubakar and a representative of the petitioners against her.

He also disclosed that the Committee would finalize all pending reports on petitions against some ministerial nominees with a view to submitting them to the Senate tomorrow before the Chamber resumes screening of the remaining nominees.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the nominees whose petitions are still pending at the Senate Committee are the former governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, and the nominee from Sokoto State, Ms Abubakar.

He stated that the Committee had done everything to ensure that the reports of the two petitions would be laid before the Senate tomorrow for consideration before commencement of screening exercise of the remaining 18 ministerial nominees.

The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, who won his tribunal case last Friday against his opponent, Hon. Uche Onyeagocha, explained that it was his journey to his state for the tribunal judgement that prevented the Committee from finalizing decisions and reports on the pending petitions.

“We will submit our reports on the petitions on Tuesday. We are going to hear the petition against the nominee from Sokoto, Ms Aisha Abubakar, tomorrow (today) and conclude everything about it, so that the report can be laid alongside Amaechi’s report on Tuesday. I believe that there are no serious encumbrances in these petitions that can stop us from submitting our reports.

“As I told you last time, it was the marathon screening that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday last week that made it impossible for us to sit and conclude that of Amaechi but this time around, we are going to sit before Tuesday and conclude everything so that we can forge ahead.

“By the grace of God, I don’t fail in assignments, and I believe that with the kind of committed men and women in the Committee, we will accomplish our assignment without any problem,” he said.

It will be recalled that the Committee had convened on Monday last week to investigate the petition against the Rivers State nominee (Amaechi) by a Port Harcourt based Non-Governmental organization (NGO), called, Integrity Group on allegations bordering on corruption and graft while in office as governor.

The Committee, however, got stuck in the process when it was confirmed that the matter for which the petition was written against him was pending in court.

Amaechi’s name had been enlisted to be screened on Wednesday last week but because the report of the Ethics Committee was not submitted to the Senate for consideration, the former governor was dropped.

Also, the Senate received another petition on Thursday last week against the ministerial nominee from Sokoto State, Ms Aisha Abubakar.

Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC, Sokoto East), who laid the petition on the floor of the apex legislative Chamber, said that the Sokoto women were the ones protesting her nomination and demanding for a replacement with a more competent person, alleging that Ms Abubakar was incompetent to represent the state as a minister.

Senator Gobir, however, avoided to speak to journalists, who besieged his office to get a copy of the petition and further clarification on the issues raised.

Meanwhile, Senator Anyanwu has denied the speculations that his Committee was under intense pressure from the nominees, whose petitions were pending, particularly Amaechi and his supporters.

He said, “When I hear these speculations I just laugh because there is nothing like that. I am just doing my work, and nobody has ever put pressure on me for anything since we received the petitions. So, there is no pressure on me or on the Committee as a whole”.