With Mumini Abdulkareem
A civil right group, Kwara Advancement Initiative (KAI) has warned the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to allow itself to
be dragged into politics in its ongoing investigation of the suspended
Local Government chairmen.
KAI in a statement signed by its convener, Sulaiman Rasheed, and sent
to Pilot Politics, the group while declaring support for probe alleged
the Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is using the probe to pressurise
the chairmen to join the All Progressives Congress (APC)
It advised the anti-graft commission to ensure justice was served at
the end of the day.
KAI further said none of the chairmen be given preferential treatment
adding any one of them found guilty should be made to face the music.
The statement read in full:
“As an organisation that promotes transparency and accountability in
governance, we fully support the ongoing probe of the suspended 16
Local Government chairmen in Kwara State by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC). We, however, warn against the politicisation
of the investigation, as it is being rumoured.
“Information available to us revealed that the State Governor,
Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq is using the ongoing probe to threaten the
affected chairmen to join the All Progressives Congress, APC and
publicly declare their support for him.
“We were told that the chairmen who decide to take up the Governor’s
offer will be let off the hook while those who refuse, will be
prosecuted by the EFCC. This is wrong and absurd. We totally condemn
this and ask the EFCC not to allow it to be used as a political tool
by the Governor.
“KAI called on the EFCC to go ahead with its investigation and ensure
that justice is served. All the chairmen should be given equal
treatment irrespective of their political affiliation – whether they
choose to defect to the APC or not.
“We hold that all the LG chairmen should be properly investigated and
whoever is found guilty should be made to face the music. No one among
them should be given a preferential treatment.
“The EFCC, as an independent body, should not be compromised or turned
to arm of the ruling APC. The Commission is urged to exert its
independence, impartiality and refuse to be used by the State
Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to play politics”, it added.
