From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) have commended President Bola Tinubu, for suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
Edu, along side the National Coordinator of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIPA), Halima Shehu, were accused of diverting N44.8 billion in to a private account.
IPAC National Chairman, Yusuf Dantalle, who spoke exclusively to The Daily Sun on Monday, said: ” The President has seen that it is a dent to the system and he is just coming on board.
“So, if you were in his shoes, you would do the same thing. Like one of the accusations that flew to Kogi and you and I know that Kogi State has no airport.
“I think that it is fair that president took the action for proper investigation.”
Also, HURIWA’s National Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, in a statement, said: “It is the right decision to allow for unfettered investigation.
“She has to submit herself to the EFCC to clear herself of allegations of authorising payment of public funds into private bank account, if indeed this was done.
“If the payment as alleged was made even after the Accountant-General of the Federation had refused her request in a memo to the AG-Federation, then the only option left is to prosecute her and every penny made as payment as alleged should be recovered.
“This is a great lesson for the president to be very thorough before he makes appointments, so he puts square pegs in square holes.
“Appointments into public offices should be merit based and also against the backdrops of competencies and sincerity of purpose.
“Those elevated to serve must never mistake such elevations as opportunities to line their pockets with filthy lucre. So, let there be transparent and unhindered investigation of the minister.”