Bola Ajibola to Buhari: Form two c’ttees for anti-corruption, governance

By Bashir Adefaka

LAGOS— As President Muhammadu Buhari is set to touch ground today in Ogun State on a two-day state visit, former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN), has lent his voice on how he will achieve success in anti-corruption fight and governance.

Ajibola spoke in Abeokuta just as former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Chief Sharafa Tunji Ishola, threw his weight behind the President’s anti-corruption fight but urged him to form economic team and appoint a competent economist to head it.

In an interview with Vanguard in his Abeokuta home, Bola Ajibola said President Buhari’s government had got a lot on its hands to fight corruption and at the same time ensure good governance.

To achieve both concurrently, he advised the President to urgently set up two committees to work on both sides of the administrative projections.

He said: “He should set up two bifocal committees, one to work under his supervision on anti-corruption fight and the other committee to work under his supervision on governance.

“Even though anti-corruption is enough to occupy an entire tenure of an administration, the situation of present day Nigeria requires that while corruption is being killed, governance should also go along with it so that people can have social amenities to live a fresh and truly changed life.

“Therefore, it behoves the government to ensure that on the list of its priority, is not only the corruption issue but also security of the nation and safety of the people.

“That is important because without that, the situation could be worse because everybody is looking for means of defrauding the nation or grabbing anything from anybody.”

In his submission, former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Sharafa Ishola, though a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain, threw his weight behind the President’s anti-corruption fight, and advised him to form his economic team and find a competent person to head it.

His words: “As a former minister of the Federal Republic, I should not be seen in partisanship.  I am and will continue to be on the path of progress in matters of national interest. That is why I will continue to give my word to President Muhammadu Buhari on things he should do to succeed.

“He should, therefore, form his economic team and find a competent economist to head it.  If he does it well and Nigeria is better, it is not only Buhari, it is not only APC people, it is not only Hausa people that will benefit.  All Nigerians, including members of PDP and other parts of the country will benefit.”