The former Governor of Lagos and Chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmad Tinubu, did not let his display of cordial relationship with the President get in the way as he advised President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of the economy during the launching of the book ‘Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity’.
The event which took place in Abuja was a midterm scorecard of Buhari’s administration.
“Jagaban”, who was one of the keynote speakers of the event, urged the Government to create more policies for the benefit of Nigerians.
“Too many parents cannot properly feed and clothe their precious children. Too many young adults exist in the void of joblessness, and too many of us do not have the resources to care for the elderly parents who once cared for them. We must cure these wrongs.
“If I were an architect, I would say that President Buhari has used the last two years to wisely lay the deep and wide foundation for a new building called a better Nigeria.”
Tinubu also applauded the Government on the presentation of the 2018 budget, adding that it would further steer the economy in the right direction.
“It shows this government has embraced its progressive identity despite the chorus of opposition. Also that it more clearly realises the depths of the economic and financial challenges before us.
“One of the important aspects of this budget is the capital expenditure for needed infrastructure.
“This investment means the government fully recognises our economy must grow but that it cannot expand beyond the parameters of the infrastructural grid that serves it.
“With this book and with the budget, we come to the place where past intersects with the present to interact with the future; the place where what we do or don’t do will dictate the Nigeria of tomorrow.”
The APC Chieftain, who some perceived as having an ‘unfinished business’ with the President, noted that such representation is “false” and “will be fake”.
“What I proffer today is done in the spirit of utmost respect and affinity by one who wants the best for this Government and for Nigeria. I say these things to encourage the government to achieve the greatness the times demand and of which this government is capable,” he said.
The Former Governor of Lagos State also said the corruption level of the past administration was at its peak, winning gold.
“The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited its giving only to themselves.
“So much money grew feet and ran away faster than Usain Bolt ever could, that which could have been spent on national development was squandered in ways that would cause the devil to blush.
“One minister and her rogues’ gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in the sleight of hand. In governance, they earned a red card but in corruption l, they won the gold medal.
“It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption. Corruption has become institutionalised.”
He further added that it has been defeated by the present administration as Buhari has set an axe to “the root of this dangerous tree”.
“We have much to do to combat this disease. Not only must we track down the takers. In the long term, we must review the salaries of public servants and create universal credits for our people to reduce temptation.”
But Tinubu’s speech and its attack on Jonathan’s government did not go well with Ex-President Jonathan’s former media Aide Reno Omokri, as he described the allegations as lacking facts and baseless.
Omokri argued that the Country had the highest ranking in war against corruption during his era.
“Transparency International observed the Jonathan administration’s fight against the corruption in Nigeria’s fertilizer procurement regime, the use of technology to remove 50,000 federal ghost workers and the speed at which the then President fired ministers accused of corruption or conflict of interests.
“From that time till today, Nigeria has not made any improvements and has remained at 136 where Jonathan left us because Transparency International deals with facts, not opinions or media trial.”
According to Omokri, there was no misappropriation of funds when the President was in power and the alleged pension thief, Abdulrasheed Maina, was wanted by Jonathan’s Government.
“We also now know that it is a fact that the present Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, met with Maina in Dubai. We know that Maina’s family revealed in a press conference that Maina was invited back to Nigeria by the present government. It is also a fact that Maina was recalled, reinstated and given double promotion by the current administration.
“Moreover, we know from the head of service’s leaked memo that President Muhammadu Buhari was aware of this entire saga.
“Perhaps Asiwaju Bola Tinubu mistook the Usain Bolt speed at which Maina was smuggled back into the country and reinstated, for the unproven claims of corruption under Jonathan.”
