By BASHIR ADEFAKA
President of Nigeria, Mr. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been cautioned against ever attempting to heed the call for mercy for some public officials currently being investigated for corruption.
Giving this caution on Friday was the Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG), which spoke through a statement on the heels of reports of pressures being mounted on the President to pardon certain public office holders who are not even yet arraigned for trial in competent court of jurisdiction.
The Group noted that such compassion would set bad precedence and send wrong signals about President Tinubu-led Federal Government’s ability to help Nigeria fight kill corruption before corruption kills Nigeria and Nigerians.
Reacting to the call by a political group, Arewa Unity Front that the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, be reinstated in view of her unblemished record and dedication to duty, the Watch Group counselled against such indulgence and politicisation of criminal offences and economic crimes.
It said that such display or action would undermine the renewed effort by the President at combating the cankerworm called corruption in the country.
In a press statement, jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, and the Ogun State Coordinator of the Group, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde, the Media Group opined that such plea should wait for the outcome of the ongoing investigation on the officials in order not to play down the process and shield those other officials, past and serving, who are currently being investigated.
While noting that righteousness exalt a nation,the group decried the seemingly parochial and sentimental clamour by the group and individuals, noting that such call for clemency has implication for the revitalized combat at addressing corruption in the country,the bane of our development.
MMWG, however, called for fair play attitude on the part of the investigative panel and to employ conventional standard and process in order that their assignment is not adjudged as an “hatchet job” and for the outcome to attain credence.
Meanwhile MMWG has implored public office holders and other officials to be above boards in the discharge of their duties and be guided by their ‘oath of office and allegiance’ and to be wary of actions that can tarnish their good image and the erosion public of confidence in them.
It also called on those at the helm of affairs to embrace the rule of law and ensure fairness, justice, equity and accountability in the affairs of the nation for good governance and development of the country.
