by Samuel Ogundipe, PremiumTimes
President Buhari has come under attack over reports suggesting his government may have deliberately doctored the latest report of the presidential arms audit panel.
The reports have cast doubt on the integrity of an administration that repeatedly defined honour and transparency in public service as part of its cardinal objectives, critics said.
Mr. Buhari set up the investigative panel three months after he assumed office to help uncover fraudulent practices that might have occurred in the procurement of arms for the military between 2007 and 2015.
While the committee has so far uncovered monumental corruption in military procurement, indicting many political and military bigwigs, critics say there were strong indications the government doctored the latest probe report.
At issue is the suspicion that the government may have removed the name of the Interior Minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau from the report to shield him from prosecution.
Mr. Dambazau served as Chief of Army Staff from 2008 to 2010.
A deluge of comments beneath PREMIUM TIMES’ report on the matter showed that even the president’s staunch supporters were opposed to the exemption of Mr. Dambazau from the report.
Many Nigerians also took the debate to Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms to express anger, with some of them questioning the president’s integrity.
Some critics also believe the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, who served briefly as Director of Procurement, Defence Headquarters, from February until May 2014, should also have been indicted.
Below are some reactions sourced from our website and social media. (Some of the comments were edited to correct spelling, syntax, grammatical or typographical errors.)
On Web site
Adekunle Ajayi:
“I will be highly disappointed if these two generals are left out of this probe, but we will wait and see how they can wiggle their way out if other actors are arrested and tried. A thief is a thief, no matter what part of the country they come from. My President, your integrity and honour are at stake here.”
Gaskins:
“All Buhari is interested in is the investigation of his enemies while he shields his friends. Burutai, who all his life has been a soldier, earned enough salary from FGN to own properties in Dubai?”
Julius:
“If this report is true, it raises alarm with the way things are done with this administration and should be corrected immediately. This is where a serious and reliable Senate would come in and do their constitutional duty. But, as we all know, they are fighting for their own personal survival to hold on to power. They are failing us in every which way they can. The admin should also respond to this news. ASAP!”
Maria:
“Buhari is a disappointment .Hypocrite. Shame on you! I supported this government because I wanted corruption stamped out but with this selective prosecution, I have no respect for you anymore. I was happy you started fighting corrupt people but leaving out this type in your government, and in fact, appointing that man in the first place is an indictment on your socalled integrity.”
On Twitter:
@Chxta:
“This story will return one day. If nothing is done before then, it will be the coffin of Buhari’s vaunted integrity.”
@StanleyAzuakola:
“At some point, we have to come back and talk about how the @MBuhari government doctored that arms probe report and took out Dambazau’s name
On Facebook
Austin Emy:
“The hailers are now the wailers – such is life! When PDP said Buhari anti-corruption fight was selective, lopsided, vindictive, vendetta, witch-hunting, perceived political enemies and to settle old wounds, most people didn’t believe. Nigerians can see the full manifestations now. Anyone in APC is protected. No nation can go far or make any progress without sincerity of purpose. The APC apologists are now defending corruption. Nigeria we hailed thee. Shame of a nation.”
John Hamza Hamza:
“I love Premium Times. To be candid, Premium Times has fulfill all necessary requirement of being a standard newspaper based fully on international standard. Premium Times and Sahara Reporters remain my best newspapers in Nigeria. Even devil knows that Danbazzau and Buratai can never be clean in this scandal. However, since we have a government that is bent on religious, tribal as well as political bigotry, it’s not surprising that their names were removed. Good job Premium Times, keep exposing any foul committed by anybody as you are actually doing.”
Jude Chikwendu Njoku:
“Any indictment, probe, investigation and prosecutions without the involvements and indictments of Dambazzu and Buratai would amount to total and monumental failures like Buhari and APC to nigerians. In fact, the joke of the century.
Raymond Aisabor:
“These guys have no shame or conscience. They keep on deceiving Nigerians with their perfidy and perdition on some corruption campaigns only to sideline their friends and family members indicted for corruption. What kind of country are we in?”
Louis Akhigbe:
How can you probe arms purchase, indicate even people like Fayose that are not in military, and yet the army procurement officer has no question to answer. Nigeria has been reduced to a laughing stock. How on earth will the rest of the world take us serious? The same purchasing officer then is now having properties in Dubai and yet, the government gave him a clean bill.