Tinubu’s Minister pocketed whole budget of her ministry, we heard nothing again – Prof Ibrahim

*Says, ‘If the definition of governance is security and welfare of Nigerians, we don’t have governance’

Ibrahim noted that “the real risk we are facing in this country is past whether this government is performing or not, it is that Nigerians have deep personal and family crisis and they feel their survival is at stake.”

In a Wednesday night interview with ARISE NEWS, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, a Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development, expressed concern over the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government’s handling of a high-profile corruption scandal involving a minister.

The minister in question was found to have embezzled a significant portion of their ministry’s budget, sparking widespread outrage.

Professor Ibrahim noted that while the minister was initially suspended, there has been no further action or update on the matter, leading to questions about the government’s commitment to tackling corruption.

He emphasized that the lack of resolution in this case sends a worrying message about the government’s stance on corruption, suggesting that those found guilty may be supported and covered up.

The professor’s comments come as President Tinubu’s administration marks its one year anniversary Wednesday, with the economy, policies and governance under scrutiny.

The handling of corruption cases is a critical aspect of the government’s performance, and Professor Ibrahim’s concerns highlight the need for transparency and accountability in addressing such scandals.

According to the professor, “The president appointed someone in charge of monitoring of ministries and public officials but they have not explained the indices they are using to measure the ministers. Because most of this ministers is all about praising themselves but there is no content.”

He emphasised the need for accountability among government in this administration, which would eventually lead to a better and safe country.

His words, “At the very beginning of this regime, a minister was found to have pocketed virtually the entire budget of the ministry and the details were revealed. It was one of the biggest scandals in the history of this country, she was suspended and we heard nothing and in this country we always say look for the body language, what does that signify in body language. Is it that the corrupt will be supported and covered up? That’s the question for us.”

The Senior Fellow stated that if the definition for governance according to the Constitution is the security and welfare of Nigerian citizens, then the country has no governance.

In the ARISE NEWS interview, Professor Ibrahim, while speaking on Tinubu’s administration reaching one year in office, emphasised the high level of insecurity the country is facing which is contrary to Tinubu’s promises during his inauguration and campaigns.

He explained that the reason for agitation and frustration among Nigerians is due to the lack of “performance” by the president, especially after records of how he transformed Lagos state ignited the hopes of people.

The high level of suffering and misery in the current administration has raised doubts in the minds of people because the “promises of certain rapid actions by Tinubu exactly one year ago on inauguration day, that was supposed to bring life back into the economy and society, has not appeared at all. People are wondering if the next three years will be a repeat of this first year,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim highlighted that the thought of the average Nigerian currently is not on political parties, but rather it is “about the precariousness of their lives, insecurity. The spread of violence and criminality which remained unchecked all over the country, the cost of living which has created a crisis, cost of drugs and many others.”

He explained that most Nigerians do not have the basic sense of security, which is having a three square-meal.

He said, “If the constitution defines governance as the security and welfare of Nigerians then we don’t have governance. What we have is people enjoying themselves at the top but for the people there is zero governance.”

“This is a very dangerous situation for any country to be in, because self-help then becomes a generalised ideology,” he added.

Ibrahim noted that “the real risk we are facing in this country is past whether this government is performing or not, it is that Nigerians have deep personal and family crisis and they feel their survival is at stake.”

He expressed that there is no road map to assessing the government.