- Hails president of suspension of Edu
From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to shift his probe searchlight on the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, whose private company allegedly received a sum of N438m from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation under the suspended minister, Beta Edu.
NANS made the call in a statement by its President, Pedro Obi, copies made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The student body said that a probe has become imperative in unraveling the veracity or otherwise of the allegations against the Interior Minister.
While commending President Tinubu for ordering the suspension of Edu as well as thorough investigation into the N585m financial scandal rocking the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Obi pointed out that the president has clearly shown that he will leave no stone untouched and make no one a sacred cow in his fight against corruption with the steps taken so far.
NANS further urged the president to order an extensive investigation into how every penny was spent under the supervision of Edu, charging him to ensure that everyone found wanting in the alleged financial scandal is prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land.
The association lauded President Tinubu for giving youths opportunities to serve in his administration, appealing to him not to get discouraged by the financial scandal allegedly perpetrated by some young appointees.
The statement reads further: “We must state that we feel so embarrassed that the Ministry could be enmeshed in such a scandal which has stained the anti-corruption resolve of this administration. In fact, we believe that the President has done well by ordering a thorough investigation into the financial dealings of the Ministry and the order of suspension slammed on the Minister. It shows that the president will leave no stone untouched or make anyone a sacred cow in his fight against corruption.
“However, the latest revelation which is all over the media that a company owned by the Minster of Interior got #438m from the Humanitarian Ministry under the suspended Minister leaves so much to ask. And, we call on the president to order an extensive investigation into how every penny was spent under the supervision of the suspended Mrs. Edu. And, it must not stop at that, the president must ensure that everyone found wanting is prosecuted in accordance with the laws of the land.
“We must commend the president for giving youths a platform to thrive in his administration by selecting them for appointments. However, we want to seize this opportunity to call on the president not to get discouraged because of the malfeasance of some young appointees.
“As an Association, we have always maintained that the problem with Nigeria is gender or age blind. And, this has been our belief which we hold so dear to us. The president must however not stop empowering the youth demography as far as governance is concerned.”