January 18, 2024
By Ikenna Osuoha
Engr. Prosper Okafor, Founder and President, Crusade for Greater Nigeria on Poverty Eradication and Social Matters (CFGN), a non governmental organisation (NGO) on Wednesday described President Bola Tinubu’s uncompromising stance against corruption as roadmap to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
Okafor said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) while reacting to the suspension of Ms Beta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in Abuja.
He commended President Tinubu for taking a bold step in the fight against corruption especially among public officers.
“President Tinubu has demonstrated to Nigerians his disdain for corruption by tackling it headlong no matter whose ox is gored.
“Such a step is not only highly commendable but the beginning of greater economic recovery because it would serve as deterrent to others,” he said.
The CFGN founder, who is also the National President of Civil Society on Mental Health and Drug Demand Reduction (CiSMHeDDR), a coalition of over 1,500 professionals and organisations across the FCT and 36 states of the federation, urged Nigerians to rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, CFGR and C-in-C of the Armed Forces, for a corrupt free Nigeria where everyone would be proud to call theirs.
According to him, President Tinubu’s suspension of Edu is clear signal to everyone no matter how highly placed that it is no more business as usual.
Okafor who expressed optimism in the anti-graft policy of Tinubu, said that it would restore Nigeria’s dignity and fiscal responsibility through accountability.
He however called on President Tinubu to give the suspended Minister a second chance considering her age as youth.
According to him, I think she has learnt her lessons who we believed acted out of youthful exuberance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that President Tinubu suspended Edu on Monday following controversies about financial transactions she authorised in her ministry.
The suspension, according to a statement by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, had immediate effect.
The scandal included the approval of payment of hundreds of millions of naira into the private accounts of civil servants.
Edu had come under criticism from Nigerians for ordering the transfer of N585.2 million into the private bank account of a civil servant, who is the accountant in charge of grants for vulnerable Nigerians.
The minister had issued a memo to the Accountant General of the Federation in December 2023, ordering the said amount to be paid into the civil servant’s private bank account. (NAN)