THE NATION
Former member of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Salihu Moh. Lukman has hailed President Bola Tinubu for suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, and all social investment programme activities.
The commendation was contained in a statement by the former APC National Vice Chairman (North West) in Abuja on Tuesday, January 16, titled “Prebendal Politics and Crisis of Nigerian Democracy.”
Lukman, who was also the former Director General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) described as bold the move by the president, which he said was a pointer that it would no longer be ‘business as usual’ for those in positions of trust.
He said: “The big consolation is that President Tinubu has decisively intervened, first with the suspension of the Minister, Dr Betta Edu, then followed by suspending implementation of all social investment programmes and full-scale investigation of activities of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
“Will these produce a new beginning in the fight against corruption in the country? Or will it be another moonlighting providing escape routes for all those accused of corruption with another inconclusive outcome?
“Above all, will President Tinubu use the opportunity of this investigation to introduce deeper political reform in the country such that the orientation of APC begins to shift away from prebendal politics? Will such a shift take APC back to its founding vision of becoming a progressive party based on which the party and all its organs are strengthened to not only become functional but also develop the capacity to regulate the conduct of public officials it produces?
