South-West governors are not transparent about how they spend security votes and have failed to call for restructuring because they are afraid of President Muhammadu Buhari, a former Chairman of Transparency International Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Ishola Williams (retd.), says.
“All the governors should work together and tackle these crimes. But it appears to me that most governors in the South-West are so afraid of Abuja. In a federal system, what are they afraid of? Why are they not talking about restructuring? Is it because of the cheap money they are getting from Abuja?
“They go to Abuja, collect money, and nobody knows how they spend the money. There is no accountability. Nobody knows how they spend security votes. They have no integrity, and they know that,” he asserted.
Mr. Williams did not spare other state governors accusing them of creating problems for Nigeria.
“They are the ones creating problems for Nigeria. Yes, the governors are the ones creating problems for Nigeria. Governor Nasir El-Rufai seems to be the only one talking about restructuring. The South-West governors are keeping quiet,” stated the former general.
He spoke in an interview published on Sunday, describing the country as lacking integrity.
Speaking about Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s request that the federal government create a commission for Fulani herders, Mr. Williams pointed out that the Islamic cleric spoke out of ignorance.
“Sheikh Gumi is talking about creating a commission for the Fulani herders, whereas there is the National Commission for Nomadic Education created many years ago.
“That commission was created to specifically help the herdsmen. When Gen. (Muhammadu) Buhari was the chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, he gave a lot of support to Miyetti Allah. So what is Sheikh Gumi talking about?”
Further expressing his displeasure, Mr. Williams explained, “Other regions have commissions too that they are using to make money. Whether it is the Niger Delta or the North-East Development Commission, what happens there? Money disappears! Why do we continue to create commissions that enable a particular set of people to take care of themselves?
He also castigated Mr. Buhari and the National Assembly regarding how they handled the case of the ousted EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu. “Even after the National Assembly investigates such commissions, why don’t let the citizens see the reports?
“Look at the case of the sacked acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu. Have they finalised their investigations before appointing a new chairman? When you look at the whole thing, you will conclude that Nigeria is not a nation of integrity.”
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