Buhari Appointed ‘Corrupt’ Ministers – Former APC Spokesman

A former Deputy spokesperson of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, says the corruption allegation levelled against some of President Muhammadu Buhari‘s new cabinet members, show that governance in Nigeria has been officially handed over to “looters and corrupt individuals.”

YaahooJournalist reports that Frank called on Nigerians to reduce their expectations for dividends of democracy but should rather expect the unprecedented and astronomical rise in the level of corruption in the country during this second term of President Buhari.

While reacting to the inauguration of the new Ministers and assigning of portfolios, the former APC Deputy Spokesman said nothing good should be expected from the Ministers because “70 to 80 percent of them have at one time or the other been guests of the anti-corruption agencies with most of them still battling corruption charges in court.”

According to the former APC Deputy Spokesman, “there will be more corruption in this cabinet than in any other administration in the history of Nigeria as some of the Ministers purchased their slots and would want to recoup their investments at the detriment of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

“Therefore, I urge Nigerians to brace up for more hardships as corruption and incompetence have been enthroned with corruption masters turned Ministers to run the affairs of government in Nigeria.”

“Buhari told Nigerians in 2015 that he will cut his salary by 50 percent, reduce the aircraft in the presidential fleet before he became President. He also said he would reduce the cars in the Presidential convoy.”

“But Nigerians can testify that this was never done. He neither reduced his salary, aircraft in the presidential fleet nor cars in his convoy.”

“With this, therefore, it is clear to Nigerians that General Buhari is a product of lies who has continued to live and rule with falsehood. It is clear that Nigeria cannot move forward under these circumstances because darkness and light have nothing in common.”

While reacting to the directive of President Buhari that ministers who want to see him must go through his Chief of Staff or Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the former APC Deputy Spokesman said, “What is the President still doing in office? By this action, he has completely abdicated his responsibilities and declared himself unavailable and unfit to occupy the Office of President.”

“To subordinate ministers to the whims and caprices of his aides represent gross abuse of office and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“This is impunity of the highest order and a criminal alienation of the states of the federation that these ministers represent. Effectively, General Buhari’s misguided order means that the CoS and SGF are the de facto presidents.”

He said that another reason why Nigerians must not take Buhari and his cabinet serious is that he is not a man of integrity.

“In 2015, while campaigning, General Buhari promised to reduce the cost of governance if elected. After his election, he appointed 36 Ministers in apparent fulfilment of the promise. Why did he appoint 43 Ministers in 2019?”

“We don’t need a seer to know that ballooning of the cabinet would greatly increase government administrative cost and impact negatively on his ability to deliver on infrastructural development in the face of dwindling national revenue.”

“Never in the history of Nigeria has any President appointed 43 Ministers. What has changed between 2015 and 2019 that led to this atrocious expansion of the cabinet?” Frank asked.