Abdusalami, Kukah, others caution Buhari on anti-graft war

Members of the National Peace Committee for the 2015 General Elections led by a former Head of State, Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.), on Tuesday held a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari where they showed concern for the war against corruption under the present administration.
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah who spoke with newsmen at the end of the meeting held inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja, noted, that since the country was no longer under military rule, every accused person should be presumed innocent until found guilty by competent courts.
He revealed that the committee members prevailed on the president to ensure that his administration follows due process in its anti-corruption war.
There have been reports that former President Goodluck Jonathan had complained to the committee on the way the present administration had allegedly been victimising some of his aides and ministers on allegations of corruption.
Jonathan himself met with Buhari on Thursday evening on what many believed was on the same issue.
Kukah told journalists “It (the way corruption war is being fought) is not heating up the polity.
“In our conversation with President Jonathan and members of the parties, I don’t think any Nigerian is in favour of corruption or is against the President’s commitment to ensuring that we turn a new leaf.
“I think what we are concerned about is the process. It is no longer a military regime and under our existing laws, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.
Kukah said committee members at the meeting with Buhari gave update about the relevance of the committee itself and how members could help to nurture the peace God has given to the country.

Read also: Why Jonathan visited Buhari

He confirmed that members of the committee had met with Jonathan after meeting with some political parties.
He claimed the meeting with Buhari was not at Jonathan’s instance, saying the parley was a continuation of a series of intervention aimed at getting feedbacks from the conduct of the last elections.
Those who attended the meeting alongside Abubabakar, Buhari and Kukah included the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’Ad Abubakar III; the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor; Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Revd. Nicholas Okoh; Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan; a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Priscilla Kuye; Publisher of the Vanguard Newspapers, Chief Sam Amuka Pemu; National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun and Senator Ben Obi among others.

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