Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman,
says the endorsement of Abdullahi Ganduje, governor of Kano, by President
Muhammadu Buhari, is not a dent on the administration’s anti-corruption war.
Buhari raised Ganduje’s hands
during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in Kano
on Thursday, signalling an endorsement of the governor’s second term bid
despite the corruption allegations levelled against him.
Ganduje was seen in some videos
allegedly collecting kickback from some contractors, though the governor denied
the allegations.
Many have expressed reservations
with the president’s relationship with Ganduje, questioning the depth of
Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.
But in a statement, Shehu said
Ganduje is innocent until proven otherwise.
He added that Ganduje enjoys
immunity and is free from prosecution based on his status as a sitting
governor.
“Some of the suspects being close
to the President, he had not shielded them from investigation, administrative
suspensions and prosecution,” Shehu said.
“The Presidency added that it is
sheer mischief to suggest that President Buhari is shielding anybody because of
their closeness to him, explaining that no official under this administration
would go unpunished once they break the law.
“On the specific issue of
Governor Ganduje of Kano State, the statement noted that Dr. Ganduje, as a
sitting Governor, enjoys immunity from prosecution in his own right.
Furthermore, under Nigerian laws, a suspect is presumed innocent until proven
guilty in a court of law.
“In the circumstances, the matter
is in court and the President has no power to dictate to the court or the Kano
State House of Assembly, which is already investigating the matter, about what
to do with the allegations against Ganduje.
“The Presidency added that it is
unfair to ignore the larger picture of the President’s major successes in the
war against corruption, including blocking leakages of corruption, which in turn,
boosted government revenues.
“The statement challenged
President Buhari’s critics to prove that those facing corruption allegations
are innocent, adding that the President’s zero tolerance for corruption has
boosted and remarkably improved Nigeria’s image in the eyes of world leaders.”
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