President Jonathan says "I’m not soft on fight against corruption"

The Presidency, Sunday, dismissed reports that his administration was soft on the fight against corruption, saying “Nigerians should  be wary of those who seek to heat up the polity by politicizing the issue of corruption in the pursuit of their selfish personal and sectional agenda.”

In a statement in Abuja, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said in his determination to up the ante in the fight, institutional strengthening of various anti corruption agencies had been undertaken by the presidency while efforts were being made to ensure that those who run foul of the law are made to face the consequences.

The statement:“The Presidency has noted with concern, recent reports, comments and agitations aimed at creating the totally false impression that the Jonathan administration is not doing enough to curb corruption in Nigeria.

“President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan clearly enunciated his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption on his assumption of office and has since worked to strengthen the nation’s anti-corruption agencies for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

“Certainly, nothing has been done or left undone under the President’s watch to justify the labelling of his administration as ‘soft on corruption.’

“He has appointed a tried and tested corruption investigator to head the EFCC. He declined to swear in a nominee for the chairmanship of the ICPC when questions were raised by the public about the propriety of his nomination and clearance by the Senate; and recently nominated a more acceptable replacement.

“Much of the politically-motivated agitations alleging tardiness in the war against corruption revolve around the administration’s handling of the reports of probes that have been undertaken into the management of fuel subsidies in the country.

“President Jonathan wishes to reaffirm, once again, that there will be no sacred cows in the matter and that any organisation or individual found guilty of fraud or corruption will ultimately face the full weight of sanctions prescribed by the extant laws of the country.

4rm:Vanguard