Arewa Group Says Those Seeking Probe of Defence Minister Envious

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) yesterday said that a ‘faceless group’ seeking the probe of the Minister of Defence and former governor of Jigawa State,  Abubakar Badaru, are envious of his achievements in office.

It referenced a petition submitted by the group to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged abuse of office.

A statement yesterday by the Convener of ATT, Muhammad Yakubu, said Nigerians should not introduce ethnicity into the ‘good works’ that Badaru is doing in the defence ministry because if he is not doing well, President Bola Tinubu would have removed him long ago.

“But the president has confidence in him and his performance. So those hiding under this petition through this faceless group to pull down the minister are doing it out of sheer envy. They are envious of the ministerial position of Badaru. And we make bold to tell such unpatriotic persons that there is no vacancy in the ministry of defence. They should beam their poor searchlight somewhere else.

“We also want to say that the petition that Mohammed Badaru Abubakar maintains directorship in private companies, in violation of federal law prohibiting public officers from engaging in private business activities, is nothing but deliberate lies cooked up from the pit of hell,” ATT stated.

The petitioners had alleged that the minister continues to file annual returns for the companies, with records as recent as last year.

“Most egregiously, he operates a licensed Bureau de Change (BDC) while holding a federal ministerial position, flagrantly disregarding the laws designed to prevent conflict of interest and corruption,” it stated.

But the Arewa Think Tank said it finds the accusation not only as a figment of their imagination, but a calculated attempt to incite relevant stakeholders against the ‘performing’ minister of defence.

“We demand for a thorough inquiry by EFCC and ICPC to establish the genuineness of this faceless group in order to ascertain their real intention to write against the minister’s asset declarations.

“We believe that a complainant can turn accuser, therefore, we wish to urge the anti-graft agencies to enforce stricter investigation of the background of the petitioners as they may have disregarded the principles of due process expected of factual petitioners.

“We want to say categorically that the action of the faceless petitioners suggests a threat to the nation’s security. And therefore, such action should be nipped in the bud without delay.

“The ministry of defence, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s security, cannot be ridiculed by individuals who want to rock the sailing boat in the middle of sea. Where were these petitioners when Badaru passed all the processes to become the minister of one of the sensitive ministries in the country.

“We want to believe that the petitioners are to rubbish the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. But they will never succeed.  We trust that the EFCC will act decisively to ensure that these petitioners are exposed with their evil intentions to rubbish the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Abubakar Badaru, “ the statement said.