From John Adams, Minna
Former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism and Chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Niger state, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa has again taken a swipe on President Mohammadu Buhari administration, saying that the current level of corruption in the country is the worst in the history of Nigeria.
Vatsa said the APC which he belongs told Nigerians in 2015 that the People Democratic Party (PDP) administration was worst in term of corruption, but the current wave of stealing of public funds is not only demonic, it has reached Pandemic level.
The former publicity secretary of the party in the state, who was reacting to the ongoing drama over the N89.1trillion Stamp Duty fraud, said it is “heart broken” to hear that such amount of money could be stolen or tempered with under President Buhari watch despite his administration’s noise about fight against corruption.
“This is heard to believe that the President has not said anything about this monumental fraud. This not how to fight corruption if really this government came to fight corruption”.
He pointed out that more worrisome is the fact that the Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele who is being accused over the whole controversy surrounding Stamp Duty fraud is still keeping his job.
Vatsa therefore wondered whether if it is the same Buhari that Nigerians know for his zero tolerant for corruption is still the same Buhari in Aso Rock.
According to him, while the N80billion saga involving the Accountant General of the Federation is gradually being swept under the carpet, “Nigerians are again confronted with this evil against the people of this country of a missing N89.1trillion stamp duty collection fraud in CBN”.
Vatsa pointed out that the corruption under PDP in 16 years was like a child play compared to the Pandemic that this present administration is faced with in terms of corruption, adding that “what is happening now is nothing but evil. The devils have taken control of our leaders at all levels of government. The stealing now is worst than what Nigerians saw in 16 years under PDP.
“Nigerians watched with disbelief how ministers, including the same CBN governor brought out N100million to purchase nomination form for APC Presidential primary without the president questioning them the source of that money.
“Nigerians know that no Minister, including the CBN governor can earn N100million as salaries and allowances in eight years, yet nobody asked them the source of that money as public office holders”, he queried.
The outspoken APC Chieftain warned that if an opposition party wins the presidency in 2023, many current public office holders will be thrown into jail, and therefore urged President Mohammedu Buhari to upgrade facilities at the correctional centers to able to accommodate those his appointees that will be thrown there.