Politics Today

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose has advised President Muhammadu Buhari on his order for 18 military generals to be probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged in­volvement in the $2.1 billion arms deal.
Governor Fayose, who reacted to the president’s order for the 18 serving and retired military chiefs to appear before the EFCC from Monday, through his Special Assistant on Public Communi­cations and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said the military officers ought to have been probed in accordance with the armed forces rules of engagement.
The governor, who restated his sup­port for the fight against corruption, said, “the $2.1 billion arms deal is a scam because all that they are just doing is to brandish figures to deceive Nigerians and demonize the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those opposed to his dictatorship in the All Progressives Con­gress (APC). Till today, the amount they have charged people for stealing is not up to N10 billion and $2.1 billion they claimed was stolen is about N600 billion.
“The president must let Nigerians see where the arms deal is in the 2015 budget and publish details of the imaginary $2.1 billion scam. Also, the President must tell Nigerians how his friend, Jafaru Isa was able to return N100 million to the EFCC within three days because there are insin­uations that the N100 million refunded came from the Presidency.”
He said it was strange for serving military generals to be interrogated by junior police officers, adding that; “The president should not act in a way that he will be perceived as ridiculing the armed forces.”
He said; “Even though I am not a mili­tary officer, but I know that there is what is called orderly room trial, which mili­tary men who erred in the performance of their duties are made to go through. It is until they are found guilty and prob­ably dismissed that they are made to face court trial.
“In this case, how does it feel for a serving military general to be interro­gated by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP)?
“I think we should not destroy our democratic institutions, especially the ju­diciary and the armed forces because we are fighting corruption.
“Already, the President has ridiculed the judiciary by disobeying the courts and coming on television to say that or­ders of the court do not hold waters. He is also destroying the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by turn­ing it into commission for inconclusive elections. He should not ridicule the mili­tary, and men of goodwill should advise the President to tread cautiously.
“Also, the international community, especially the United States, United Kingdom and the United Nations should caution the President against actions ca­pable of bringing down institutions of government under the guise of fighting corruption.”

Sun