Why People Think Buhari is Witch-Hunting Jonathan - Ex-Rep Speaks Up

Posted by Samuel on Fri 05th Feb, 2016 - tori.ng

A two-term member of the House of Representatives has given an explanation on why there is a widespread speculation that President Buhari is witch-hunting Goodluck Jonathan.

Hon. Momoh Abubakar

Hon Abubakar Momoh, a two term member of the House of Representatives from Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State, in an interview with Vanguard has insisted that the probe into arms acquisition should not be restricted to the tenure of former President Goodluck Jonathan if the Federal government is to be taken serious in its anti- corruption war.

Momoh said that since the anti-corruption is centered around the immediate past administration, it now makes it seem like Jonathan's administration is being witch-hunted. The lawmaker also insits that previous administrations must be investigated as well, if Buhari wants to be fair.

"We were aware that these things happened, not just during the Jonathan administration, but right from Obasanjo’s time. If the probe will be taken back to that time, all former head of states should be assembled to give account of arms purchased by their administrations. It did not start with Jonathan’s administration but it is just a system that has been established which Jonathan inherited and continued with.

"So, if I were the president, I will do my best to collect money from those I can and then establish a procedure that everybody will know that, once you embezzle government funds, you will be prosecuted. That is how to end corruption. But when you decided to focus on the immediate past administration then people will begin to read meaning into it and see it as witch-hunting and victimization.

"There is nothing that was done in the administration of Jonathan that was not done in the administrations of Yar’Adua and Obasanjo. The fact remains that a tradition had been established and because it is a system, you passed it from one administration to another. We thank God that a man has come to say no, we cannot continue that system.

He further advised that the anti-corruption war should be extended to the ministries and other government parastatals.

"If government wants to curb corruption, let them go to the ministries, which is where the real corruption is taking place. They should not limit it to Dasuki alone because people will read meaning to it. People like Raymond Dokpesi should not be blamed for collecting money for advert from NSA because he cannot ask him where he got the money," he said.