Tinubu Earns Praise From Atiku For Handling Betta Edu’s Suspension

The Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s decision to suspend the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu. In a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, on Tuesday, Atiku acknowledged the commendable step taken by Tinubu but emphasized that it falls short of addressing the broader issues at hand…….CONTINUE READING

President Tinubu had directed the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, to launch an investigation into all financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

Betta Edu faced criticism following a leaked memo on December 20, 2023, which revealed her directive to transfer N585 million to a private account. The funds were intended for the Project Accountant, Grants for Vulnerable Groups, Oniyelu Bridget. Atiku expressed regret that a program designed to uplift over 100 million Nigerians from extreme poverty had allegedly become a source of enrichment for successive All Progressives Congress (APC) governments.

Atiku questioned Tinubu’s decision to appoint Edu to such a critical ministry, emphasizing the prioritization of politics over competence. He raised concerns about Edu’s qualifications compared to other experienced candidates, such as Imaan Ibrahim, and questioned the role of Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to the President, in Edu’s Senate clearance.

Advocating for a comprehensive reform of the ministry, Atiku argued that Edu should not be the sole focus of scrutiny, urging the identification, investigation, and prosecution of others benefiting from funds meant for impoverished Nigerians. He described the situation as demonic and wicked, emphasizing the need to overhaul the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry and other interventionist programs that had allegedly become channels for corruption.

Atiku drew attention to the ongoing probe of the previous Humanitarian Affairs Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq, for alleged N37 billion fraud. He asserted that immediate and urgent actions were necessary to address the systemic corruption within the ministry, pointing to instances where funds meant for the school feeding program and Yuletide support did not reach their intended recipients.

In conclusion, Atiku accused the APC of weaponizing poverty and hunger to manipulate the vulnerable masses, asserting that the party had turned poverty into an instrument of official corruption. The statement underscored the urgency of addressing corruption within the humanitarian affairs sector to ensure the effective and transparent delivery of aid to those in need.

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