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Senate Committee Chairman on Security and National Intelligence, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, says that the ongoing probe in the various sectors of the economy is a welcome development. He said that the exercise would help to strengthen democracy and the fight against corruption and other sharp practices.
Senate Committee Chairman on Security and National Intelligence, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, says that the ongoing probe in the various sectors of the economy is a welcome development. He said that the exercise would help to strengthen democracy and the fight against corruption and other sharp practices.
Speaking with Daily Sun on telephone on Tuesday on the state of the nation, Senator Aliyu, a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police representing Niger North Senatorial district, said the probe would yield fruit.
According to him, the character of the present National Assembly was different from what used to obtain before.
Said he: "Nigerians should lend their full support to the ongoing effort at helping to cleanse the system in line with the policy of the Yar'dua administration to combat corruption in all its ramifications".
Aliyu said that the probes were not meant to witch-hunt anybody or groups, but to redeem Nigeria's image and help government get its priority right from time to time.
"You see, these probes are not really targeted at certain individuals but at institutions of government, in order to make them more responsive to the needs of Nigerians in all facets of human life. People are getting more and more cautious in the way and manner they dispense with government work and the more awareness that is created, the better for the country."
He said that the revelations at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) probe were discomforting and anti-development, adding: "We cannot continue to operate in this manner. The National Assembly has to be awake to its over-sight functions and that was why the issue of probe came up in the first place. It is our responsibility to instill confidence in the people so that they can take us serious and the leadership of the Senate in the last 10 months has been wonderful."
While hoping to see an end to the probe in a manner that would elicit confidence on the part of the electorate and the public, Senator Aliyu said the anti-corruption fight was a collective one involving all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or geo-political considerations.
"We are all Nigerians and we desire to see good governance from those who represent us. The probes should be seen as one platform that can guarantee good governance and rule of law. It is our collective responsibility and not that of the National Assembly alone," he said.
On the Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) saga over the Federal Ministry of Health scandal, Aliyu admonished the media to be fair in its judgment and allow the concerned agencies to do their work.
He said: "There is too much of media hype on this issue. No one is pronounced guilty until a court of competent jurisdiction so declares."
Investigation is just a process and not an end, hence it is always better to allow full investigations into any matter to be concluded before you rush into any conclusion."