The Presidency has expressed worry over political appointees, government officials and party men who have embarked on what it called “influence peddling,” using their positions to perpetuate corruption.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, who spoke to news men today, Tuesday said that the Presidency is increasing being embarrassed by complaints of extortions of innocent people by those he called “self-serving name droppers and influence peddlers.”
According to Garba Shehu: “President Buhari had made it very clear since his inauguration that he won’t tolerate any form of impropriety by his appointees, aides, and government officials who abuse and misuse their offices for illegal financial advantages.”
The media aide said that using one’s office or influence for private advantage or financial gains is corruption, warning that “the President would not tolerate any conduct by anybody to use his name to extort innocent people.”
He stressed that President Buhari’s commitment to the fight corruption at all fronts in his government remains unchanged, adding: “those who are not genuinely committed to this vision would be weeded out once caught and punished accordingly.”
The media aide advised Nigerians to report any government official or appointees using the President’s name or that of his aides and appointees to extort the public, adding that the current zero tolerance for corruption by the Buhari administration won’t condone this repugnant culture in government or public business.
