My ministers are being blackmailed, Buhari cries out

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has raised an alarm over what he said was ongoing blackmail of officials of his government.

A presidency statement issued by his Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja on Tuesday decried reports linking some of the ministers to corruption.

It particularly mentioned Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, whose activities as Group Managing Director (GMD) were being investigated.

The statement rejected the assertion and appealed to Nigerians to ignore such reports

The statement said Buhari “appealed to discerning Nigerians to ignore orchestrated attempts to sully the integrity of ministers and other senior government officials, who are being tarred with the brush of corruption without any concrete evidence.”

The statement said Buhari was reacting to reports, “particularly by online media, that the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), who is also Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Kachikwu, is being investigated over crude oil swap deals and gas lifting during his tenure as GMD of the petroleum corporation, President Buhari appealed for decent and civilised comments, particularly when it has to do with the integrity of those who are serving the country.”

It added: “Terrible and unfounded comments about other people’s integrity are not good. We are not going to spare anybody who soils his hands, but people should please wait till such individuals are indicted.”

Buhari reiterated the administration’s commitment to probity, accountability and integrity, promising that transparency remains a watchword, which would never be trifled with.