A
body of eminent Igbo personalities called Igbo Leaders of Thought has
issued a stern warning to the Muhammadu Buhari administration, not to
humiliate former president, Goodluck Jonathan, all in the name of
probing his administration.
Led by elder statesman and constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, the group urged Buhari to immediately commence plans to restructure Nigeria.
In a statement titled “Only truth and justice endures,” which was signed by the group’s deputy secretary, Evangelist Elliot Uko, they stressed that the probe must be devoid of “witch-hunting and smear agenda.”
According to Punch, the statement read, “Desirable as the probe and prosecution of corrupt officials of the outgone regime is, we must endeavour to avoid witch-hunting and smear agenda.
“Only the probe and prosecution of factual, traceable and clearly identifiable cases of abuse of office and misuse of public funds will inspire confidence and receive commendation of the citizenry and the international community.
“Humiliating and deliberately degrading political opponents in the guise of probe and prosecution of corrupt officials will only reduce the whole exercise to a jamboree, that could lead to a lot of a acrimony and bad blood which we believe, is the last thing Nigeria needs at the moment.”
The group also noted that fighting corruption and insurgency alone would not be enough to change Nigeria’s future positively, arguing that the current federal structure, which was established by the Nigerian military, was the bane of contemporary Nigeria.
It said, “We believe that Nigerians from all persuasions, political divide, zone or status all agreed that the unity, security, stability of Nigeria should be the priority of all concerned at this juncture of our national growth.
“Sincerity of purpose, commitment to what is best for the country and for the good of all should guide actions and steps of our new leaders.
“While views and opinions may differ on solutions to the myriad of problems confronting us as a people, truth is usually located somewhere near the court of justice, equity and fair play.
“Continuing to pretend that the present political structure is sustainable is clearly to live in denial of reality.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has openly supported the planned move by the Buhari government to prosecute corrupt government officials.
Led by elder statesman and constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, the group urged Buhari to immediately commence plans to restructure Nigeria.
In a statement titled “Only truth and justice endures,” which was signed by the group’s deputy secretary, Evangelist Elliot Uko, they stressed that the probe must be devoid of “witch-hunting and smear agenda.”
According to Punch, the statement read, “Desirable as the probe and prosecution of corrupt officials of the outgone regime is, we must endeavour to avoid witch-hunting and smear agenda.
“Only the probe and prosecution of factual, traceable and clearly identifiable cases of abuse of office and misuse of public funds will inspire confidence and receive commendation of the citizenry and the international community.
“Humiliating and deliberately degrading political opponents in the guise of probe and prosecution of corrupt officials will only reduce the whole exercise to a jamboree, that could lead to a lot of a acrimony and bad blood which we believe, is the last thing Nigeria needs at the moment.”
The group also noted that fighting corruption and insurgency alone would not be enough to change Nigeria’s future positively, arguing that the current federal structure, which was established by the Nigerian military, was the bane of contemporary Nigeria.
It said, “We believe that Nigerians from all persuasions, political divide, zone or status all agreed that the unity, security, stability of Nigeria should be the priority of all concerned at this juncture of our national growth.
“Sincerity of purpose, commitment to what is best for the country and for the good of all should guide actions and steps of our new leaders.
“While views and opinions may differ on solutions to the myriad of problems confronting us as a people, truth is usually located somewhere near the court of justice, equity and fair play.
“Continuing to pretend that the present political structure is sustainable is clearly to live in denial of reality.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party has openly supported the planned move by the Buhari government to prosecute corrupt government officials.
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