Atiku Commends Tinubu’s Suspension of Minister Amidst Scandal

Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has praised President Bola Tinubu for suspending the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant for Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku commended the move but emphasized that it was insufficient.

President Bola Tinubu had directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, to investigate all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. This directive came after Edu faced criticism following a leaked memo on December 20, 2023. The memo revealed that she instructed the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer N585 million to a private account owned by Oniyelu Bridget, who the ministry claimed serves as the Project Accountant for Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

Atiku expressed disappointment that a program aimed at lifting over 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty had allegedly become a source of financial gain for successive All Progressives Congress (APC) governments. He questioned Edu’s appointment, criticizing Tinubu for prioritizing politics over competence. Atiku raised concerns about Edu’s qualifications for the role and questioned why someone with more experience, like Imaan Ibrahim, was overlooked. He also questioned the role of Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, in Edu’s clearance at the Senate.

Atiku called for broader reforms within the ministry and urged the government to identify and prosecute all those involved in the mismanagement of funds meant for poverty alleviation. He cited the ongoing probe of the previous Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Umar Farouq, for alleged N37 billion fraud as evidence of the need for immediate action.

The statement emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in government interventions, criticizing the handling of the school feeding program during the COVID-19 lockdown and questioning the distribution of funds to households during the Yuletide. Atiku accused the APC of using poverty and hunger as tools of corruption, exploiting vulnerable segments of society for political gain.

Vanguard News