'Ekwueme, Clark, others slam Buhari over biased appointments, anti-graft war

Southern leaders under the auspices of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNP), on Tuesday, ‎slammed President Muhammadu Buhari over what they described as his lopsided appointments and selective fight against corruption.

Speaking at the meeting of the elders council held in Akure, the Ondo state capital, the SNP led by Elder statesman & former Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark, although expressed support for President Buhari’s fight against corruption, but kicked against being selective.

''The resolve of President Buhari’s administration to wage a decisive war against corruption which is essential to put Nigeria on the global map of business friendly nations that will earn the country prosperity is a most welcome development,'' Chief Clark said while speaking at the meeting. ''However, it is important to state that the dialectics of corruption, as pervasive as diverse, require a holistic fight to tame its pervading scourge. Thus, it must not be seen to be selective and limited to some perceived political enemies and foes to score cheap political points. For Nigeria to succeed in the war to eliminate the cancerous spread of this malaise, all those who contributed in one way or another to ruin the prospects of a great country like Nigeria and have brought us to this despicable position should be made to account for their actions. It is only when the battle against corruption is genuinely and seriously fought without fear of favour that endearing legacies of a transformed country could bequeathed to future generations. As Nigerians, we are all equal without regard to race, creed and tribe. It is therefore my candid appeal to President Buhari to live his priceless mantra ‘I belong to everybody, but‎ I belong to nobody’ in the manner, that the affairs of state are conducted, regardless of who gave him 95 percent votes and 5 percent of votes.''

Leaders of the council who also joined Chief Clark at the meeting were Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on 2014 National Conference, Senator Femi Okorounmu; leader of the Southwest Delegation, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Gbonigi‎; former Vice President, Alex Ekuweme; A third Republic Senator, Ngoji Denton-West;  former Minister of Transport and Aviation, Chief Ebenezer Babatope; Prof Ikechukwu Madubuike, Kunle Olajide and former military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State, Ndongesit Ekang.

Others were Senator Tony Adefuye, former Lagos State Deputy Governor,‎  Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Prof Olu Agbi among others.

Read more at Vanguard