A former federal lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has sharply criticized President Bola Tinubu for his refusal to probe military spending under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th National Assembly, expressed concern over the President’s contradictory position. Tinubu had stated during a media chat on Monday that he was not interested in investigating military expenditures under the Buhari government. This stance, according to Sani, stands in stark contrast to Tinubu’s decision to probe the activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the leadership of former Governor Godwin Emefiele.
Sani argued that by refraining from investigating military spending, President Tinubu was essentially “rewarding larceny and corruption.” He emphasized that a thorough review of past financial mismanagement, particularly in sectors like defense, was crucial, especially in light of Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges. “When you find yourself in this position, especially with a nation facing these critical issues, you still have to look back and see how public funds were looted and whether they have been recovered,” Sani said.
He further criticized Tinubu’s dismissal of any retrospective investigation into the mismanagement of security and defense funds, calling it contradictory to the President’s actions regarding the CBN. “If you can go backward in the CBN, why can’t you go backward in security?” Sani questioned, stressing the importance of accountability and transparency.
The former lawmaker also argued that if evidence of corruption in military spending was presented to Tinubu, the President should have committed to recovering any misappropriated funds. He expressed disappointment that Tinubu’s response suggested that such past actions should be left unchecked.
Sani went on to address the President’s broader policies, urging that Tinubu should be held accountable for the actions of his ministers and the challenges under his leadership. “He should be held responsible for what has happened under his government,” Sani stated, referencing the economic reforms introduced by Tinubu, which have sparked widespread public discomfort. “Economic reforms have never been popular with citizens,” Sani added, acknowledging the pains Nigerians are enduring but stressing that these measures must be measured against the President’s responsibility for government actions.
The debate over accountability in military spending continues to stir public discourse as Nigerians grapple with economic and security issues.
