Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to entertain or negotiate soft landing deals with ex-government officials who have abused their offices and looted the nation’s treasury. In a statement in Abuja, Frank expressed concern that the President’s initial zeal in going after corrupt elements seems to have waned or disappeared completely.
Frank called on President Tinubu to intensify efforts to hold corrupt officials accountable for their actions in order to prevent the ongoing investigations of Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, and Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, AbdulRasheed Bawa, from appearing to be driven by vendetta.
He also warned against rewarding ex-governors and ex-ministers facing corruption charges or criminal allegations with fresh appointments, stating that it would undermine the credibility of the anti-corruption drive.
Frank further urged the security agencies involved in the anti-corruption battle to extend their investigations to the oil and gas sector, particularly targeting those who fraudulently benefited from fuel subsidy regimes and the bogus daily PMS consumption in the country, and ensuring they repay the looted funds.
He said: “From all indications, your (Tinubu’s) government is negotiating with looters, and that is the reason why, up till now, we have not seen any new action against looters after the arrest and detention of Emefiele and Bawa.”
Frank criticized the lack of action taken against other looters who operated during the previous administration, suggesting that negotiations for a soft landing were underway. He expressed disappointment that the initial zeal to fight corruption had diminished and questioned if the President was genuinely committed to tackling corruption or simply targeting those who did not support his bid to become President.
Frank also raised concerns about former political office holders with corrupt reputations finding their way into Tinubu’s cabinet, warning against rewarding such individuals with appointments.
He emphasized the suffering of the masses due to policies implemented by Tinubu, such as fuel subsidy removal, and called for those who benefited fraudulently from the subsidy regime to be held accountable.
Frank concluded by stating that Nigerians and the international community are watching to see if President Tinubu’s anti-graft drive is genuine or merely symbolic, based on the ongoing investigations of Emefiele and Bawa.
