President Muhammadu Buhari has said nothing will deter him from probing cases of corruption in past administrations and trying proven cases.
The President said this on Sunday in reaction to a statement by Ministers who served in the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The Ministers had on Sunday told Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, that they remain undaunted despite the threat to probe them.
They also listed what they considered their achievements.
But Buhari said he has nothing personal against the ministers but the conduct while in office.
He equally said the decision to conduct the probe was not targeted against Jonathan.
In a statement by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, Buhari said: “The Presidency has asked the country’s latest trade union formation, the Association of Ex-Jonathan Ministers, to do a bit of self-reflection on the sort of government they handed to President Muhammadu Buhari back in May to determine for themselves if it would have been right for any incoming government, not just this one to ignore the issue of the brazen theft of public assets, perhaps the first of its kind we have ever seen in this country,
“The Presidency is emphatic on the earlier statements made in this regard that there is no witch hunt or malice against anyone in the pursuit of the county’s stolen assets. This war against corruption knows no friend nor foe. There is no intention to deny anyone of their good name where they are entitled to it and that President Buhari reserves the highest regards for the country’s former leaders including Dr Jonathan Goodluck who he continues to praise to the high heavens for the way and manner in which he accepted defeat in the last election. This singular action remains a feat that has earned the former president and Nigeria as country befitting commendations all over the world, the latest coming from Mr Ban Ki-Moon, the Secretary-General of the United Nations who visited a week ago.
“For the purpose of emphasis, issue of fighting corruption by President Buhari is non negotiable. It is sine qua non to the overall reconstruction of the economy and social systems which suffered destruction and severe denigration under the last administration. President Buhari will not be deterred or blackmailed into retreat and surrender.
“No one in the PDP can accuse President Buhari of undermining the economy when all they handed over to him is at best, a tottering economy hobbled by corruption and the absence of due process. All he has been doing while around is to put things together, organizing to defeat Boko Haram, paying outstanding salaries, cleaning up the mess left behind, improving security and restoring our relationships with neighbours and the world.
So what are former ministers afraid of in these things? Have they become a new trade union?
“Let this collection of ex-VIPs allow the President the peace he needs to handle the reconstruction of the economy and the nation in a manner that most serves Nigeria’s best interests. President Buhari does not need these types of distraction presented by the so-called association of former ministers.”