By Francis Sadhere
President Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to ensure that only credible Nigerians are appointed in his cabinet so as to bring the much talked about change and dividends of democracy to the people.
A Niger Delta based Non-Governmental Organization, Center for Peace and Environmental Justice, lauded the President for finally sending the ministerial list to the Senate thus dousing accusations that he is a dictator.
National Coordinator, CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade, who made the observation in a wide range interview, noted that the electorate from the various religious and ethnic divides voted for him and that they expect him to make good his campaign pledges otherwise they would regard such as mere political jingles to garner their votes.
‘’The Nigerian people voted massively for him because he was seen as a man of integrity, who would deploy all arsenals to fight corruption and restore integrity to the country. So, he should not fail to deliver on the promises. We expect tested and trustworthy Nigerians to make the ministerial list and help him run the affairs of the country otherwise he would not achieve much’’, he said.
The activist called for the strengthening of the various government institutions and make them proactive to drive his policies, adding that ‘’no amount of pressure from dissident voices should make him give up the fight against corruption’’.
Specifically, he urged the President to introduce sweeping reforms in the civil service where most of the corrupt practices are allegedly perpetrated and bring culprits to book to serve as deterrents to others.
He maintained that President Buhari would etch his name in gold, if he is able to ‘’walk the talk’’ by stopping the level of impunity or lawlessness in the country, expressing disappointment that ‘’in contemporary Nigeria, court pronouncements are obeyed selectively’’.
‘’A situation where the AGF looks the other way while security agents commit criminal activities including extra-judicial killings was embarrassing to the nation. The new AFG should be a man of unquestionable character, principled and God fearing’’.
Comrade Mulade also called for the anti-graft agencies to be given legal muscle to scrutinize budget implementation at all levels of government to see areas where contracts are inflated or not executed at all, as according to him, loopholes have been contrived to plunder public funds and make stealing look legitimate.
‘’Many government officials now use companies where they have interests as consultants to do the very tasks they were elected to perform’’, he alleged.
