Despite scathing criticisms, immediate Past President Muhammadu Buhari has thumped his chest that his administration tackled corruption in an unprecedented manner ever witnessed in Nigeria’s chequered history.
Speaking through his spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the former President said being recognised as the African Continental Anti-Corruption Champion by the African Union (AU) was a testimonial of this laudable achievement during his eight-year tenure.
Shehu was responding to the allegation by former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, that Abubakar Malami, the immediate past AGF, and the Federal Government gave false evidence before the English Court that is handling the $9.6billion judgment debt case between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Process and Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID).
Adoke had in a recent interview with popular TV programme host, Adesua Giwa-Osagie, spoken on the corruption allegations levelled against him and former Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, described the Buhari administration as most incompetent ever in the history of Nigeria.
Adoke accused the Buhari administration of mismanaging the case resulting from a deal signed between P&ID, and Nigeria for the Ajaokuta steel company.
“I have been a victim of corruption allegations by the immediate past government. The most incompetent government we’ve ever seen in this country; run by the most incompetent President that this country has ever had and will never have again. And run by a set of political morons”, the former AGF under the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, said.
But with no kind words for Adoke for what he described as anti-graft pretense, Shehu said ex-President Buhari played his part very well and did all within his administration’s powers to save Nigeria from corruption that could have led it to total economic collapse.
Shehu said the cases cited by Adoke as a reference point of corruption were cases that originated from a government in which he himself was the man responsible for the administration of justice, adding that Adoke’s record in office made him the wrong character for “this famous skit.”
According to Shehu, the fact that Adoke’s character is a free man, walking away from the industrial-corruption their administration foisted on the 200 million-plus Nigerians is an Eighth Wonder; adding that, “so vast was its scale, it is today a subject of international scrutiny. That should be a script for a Nollywood/Kannywood blockbuster all by itself”.
The statement reads: “Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adokie has been enjoying a spotlight, masquerading as an anti-corruption character in a skit for which he is ill-suited. He neither has the track record nor the moral standing to accuse anyone of corruption, not least the former President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The fact that this character is a free man, walking away from the industrial corruption their administration foisted on the 200 million-plus Nigerians is an Eighth Wonder. So vast was its scale, it is today a subject of international scrutiny. That should be a script for a Nollywood/Kannywood blockbuster all by itself.
“Most outrageously, the cases cited by Adokie as a reference point of corruption were cases that originated from an administration in which he himself was the man responsible for the administration of justice.
“The contract and incidental judgment in the Process & Industrial Developments (P&ID) were inherited by the Buhari administration. To his credit, President Buhari succeeded in staying its execution even when the previous administration that was responsible for the creation of the liability watched helplessly and exposed Nigeria to over $10bn liability.
“Paris club saga that Adokie cited as an example of corrupt practices of the Buhari administration is not in any way different in origin and circumstances from the case of P&ID. It was rooted in administrations that predated that of President Muhammadu Buhari. Adokie was a product of the administration that planted the evil foundation and the judgments that resulted therefrom.
“The logical conclusion any reasonable person can make on P&ID, Paris Club, and Ajaokuta is that President Buhari came on a rescue mission and effectively saved Nigeria from corrupt undertones that were planted to expose its economy to imminent collapse.
“The success of the Buhari administration in the direction of the fight against corruption is unprecedented. New legislations were introduced, major recoveries were made at home, stolen monies were repatriated from abroad, and they were judiciously deployed in infrastructure development. High-profile convictions were recorded in unprecedented numbers, with enhanced percentages over and above the records in existence.
“It is in international recognition of these efforts that the African Union chose the former President as its African Continental Anti-Corruption Champion. Additional recognitions by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Corruption, UNODC among others were also lauded on the former president and his administration.
“Adoke also made some wild allegations in the aviation sector. The efforts of the Buhari administration in aviation are known: They were visible in terms of capital infrastructure development, safety, and policy; they changed the face of the aviation sector into an attractive one for investment, resulting in new airlines coming on board. No major commercial airline incident was recorded throughout this period.
“All Nigerians by right can say whatever they want of the Buhari administration. No one is offended by their actions, right or wrong. But when you come out with innuendos of corruption written all over your face and say that you want to moralise and pontificate, Nigerians in different walks of life will have problems with that.”
