Photo Credit: Daily Trust
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has leveled allegations against President Bola Tinubu, claiming that he has appointed individuals with suspected corruption ties to prominent leadership positions. In collaboration with Transparency International (TI) Nigeria, CISLAC highlighted that these appointments have extended across various levels of the political spectrum, encompassing both the executive and legislative branches of the government.
Issuing a statement from Abuja on Sunday, Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, expressed concerns over the potential repercussions of these appointments on the morale of anti-corruption agencies in the country.
Rafsanjani raised objections to instances where individuals facing serious corruption allegations were entrusted with leadership roles, particularly within the ruling political party. These actions were deemed disconcerting, especially considering ongoing investigations by anti-graft agencies at both state and federal levels against some of these individuals.
Rafsanjani underscored his dismay with the fact that some of the names forwarded by the president for ministerial positions were associated with corruption-related cases under investigation by anti-graft agencies. He critiqued the president’s apparent lack of emphasis on governance integrity and responsiveness to public concerns, particularly with regards to the anti-corruption campaign.
Highlighting specific instances, Rafsanjani mentioned the inclusion of an ex-governor internationally accused of aiding a former military ruler in illicitly transferring the country’s wealth abroad. He also raised objections to a politician overseeing the National Assembly, who himself faced allegations investigated by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The recycling of former governors and ministers with a history of underperformance in previous roles was also met with criticism.
Rafsanjani expressed the view that President Tinubu’s choice of allegedly corrupt individuals with integrity deficits signaled a disregard for public demands for a transparent and responsible government. Moreover, he lamented the potential damage these appointments could inflict on Nigeria’s global reputation, as acts like money laundering, drug trafficking, violence propagation, and arms proliferation continue to erode security, worsen poverty, undermine education and healthcare infrastructure, and challenge ethical values.
The statement concluded with Rafsanjani urging citizens and conscientious Nigerians to persistently advocate for the institutionalization of transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership within the nation’s public offices.
(Daily Trust)
