Suspended Minister, Betta Edu Reacts As Prayer Groups Hold Protests To Demand Reinstatement
The suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has claimed that she did not authorise groups organising public prayers and protests in her support to seek her reinstatement to President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet. This was stated in a release by her media aide, Rasheed Olanrewaju, alleging that Edu was confident and committed to the government’s ongoing inquiry and was fully collaborating with the authorities. The suspended minister added that she did not sponsor any public activity and urged those behind the planned actions to stop it for smooth investigation into the allegations made against her. The statement reads: “Following recent developments, would like to thank various stakeholders for their immense support since the unfortunate chain of events at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Dr Betta Edu remains committed and confident in the investigative process instituted by President Bola Tinubu and is cooperating fully with relevant authorities. “The Minister has however been made aware of several efforts by individuals, supporters and others to organise public prayers, road walk and or protests to show public support. “We wish to use this medium to state that such efforts are not approved by her or any member of her team and should be discontinued forthwith because such efforts – no matter how noble the intent, it could be seen as an attempt to pre-empt the outcome of the investigations, or can be hijacked by nefarious persons with ulterior motives. “We kindly request that those with such plans should show their support by respecting the process and await the official findings and conclusions. “Your understanding and cooperation are highly appreciated at this time. She is indeed grateful for the overwhelming support from Nigerians across all strata of society especially those most dear to her heart; the Poor and vulnerable. “By God’s Grace, she will be back to continue her selfless service to humanity, especially to the poorest of the poor whose prayers have kept her strong thus far.”
Surmounting the Tunji-Ojo Hurdle
As President Tinubu promises not to spare anyone found culpable by the probe of the fraud at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty alleviation, shall we now call this frenzy a hurricane? Because that’s what it is beginning to look like. For many, the jury may still be out on the streets. But it will seem like President Tinubu don vex. That’s why one can, for the want of a better moniker describe the current disruption in the executive branch as the reveling of a Hurricane Tinubu on the Three Arms Zone which, to all intents and purpose, it is safe to say, Nigerians are savouring the storm. But many fear that President Tinubu may not have the liver to go the full hog in the battle to clear the swamp. As we say, Nigeria is so lucky. It does not suffer natural disasters, except that the effect of bad behaviour of our public officials’ wrecks havocs greater than the worst tsunami. What should have been a land flowing with milk and honey, Nigeria has been despoiled by the successive reign of kleptocratic and ruinous rulers who simply steal public funds just for the fun of it. The theft of public funds by politicians, civil servants and their associates exerts the greatest pressure on the public purse in Nigeria. It has been estimated that from independence in 1960 till date, over US$582bin had been stolen from the public treasury in Nigeria by those into whose care it was entrusted. Stealing by public officials in Nigeria has become so bad that it is the major feature that describes successive regimes since the dawn of the Furth Republic in 1999, such that every succeeding administration, from the President Olusegun Obasanjo government, through late President Yar’adua, till date, had been more corrupt than its predecessor, not only in terms of their ranking in the Global Corruption Perception Index but the actual heist. The greatest shocker was the eight years of unmitigated disaster that was the Buhari reign of banditry, theft, cluelessness, and ignominy. So, when the lid blew open on what has now been termed as BETTAGATE at the cesspool called the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, not a few Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief, hoping the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu had found an opportunity to get Nigerians to ‘vibe to its rhythm’, unbeknownst that the Tunji-Ojo hurdle would prove to be a litmus test too complex to decipher. Certainly, it proves how broad it is that ethnic bias is a Faultline in the fight against corruption. But President Tinubu must know better than to drop the ball at this point, just to save the career of a wily dealer whose ugly backside was revealed too early before attaining a crescendo when he would make the kill. Mr. President must know that he is the boss at whose desk the buck stops. It is his presidency for crying out loud! If he allows this buildup to stall, it may be sunset at dawn for his presidency. Bettagate presents a great opportunity for him to recalibrate and relaunch his regime’s chequered agenda. Before the big seizure at Hajiya Halima’s drawers that provided the tip-off leading to this cache, Nigerians gazed in vain into the midnight sky, on a daily basis, hoping they could locate a sign that gives confidence to hope in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. The same Minister Betta Edu was one of the early signs that a gadfly of a lady constituted a major distraction to the realization of this agenda. Like her predecessor, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk, she baffled Nigerians on a daily basis with unbelievable tales about how she was empowering Nigerians with magical cash transfers, even as many discerning individuals struggled to trace her footprints on the nation’s poverty landscape. As they say, it is many days for the thief, and one day for the owner of the house. Even the least endowed could tell that the economic empowerment strategy being deployed by the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry was nowhere near tackling the poverty challenge. Many expect that President Tinubu would be swift in clearing this Augean stable currently littered with the Bettagate scandal. But it would seem that the President has buckled, unable to surmount the Tunji-Ojo huddle. Many had foretold this difficult juncture with exactitude, basing their confidence on the suspicion that Tunji-Ojo represents the interests of some deadly masquerades at the seat of power. Recall that this was the same Tunji-Ojo of the infamous “Honorable Minister, off your mic” as he prevailed on then Minister of the Niger Delta, Senator Godswill Akpabio from spilling the beans about how he and other members of the National Assembly benefitted from contracts awarded by the commission. It is déjà vu all over, as it would seem like we are back at the President Muhammadu Buhari era when, as Senator Shehu Sani poetically put it, members of the kitchen cabinet caught stealing were deodorised with fragrance while others, who were not members of the cabal, were sprayed with insecticides if caught. This is why one can not, therefore, help but to be reminded of the pledge by then candidate Tinubu when he promised that his would be an administration that would continue from where Buhari stopped. In what seems like a resort to the usual distraction and subterfuge, the president has announced the suspension of the NSIP programme. Many think this is just to divert attention from the call for suspension of Minister Tunji-Ojo, pending the conclusion of ongoing investigation by anti-graft agencies to determine the extent of his involvement. To date, the white paper issued based on the probe of the NNDC contract scam is yet to see the light of day. Meanwhile, the same man pleading with the honorable minister to off his mic is now a minister of the Federal Republic. Is there any wonder, therefore, that he is enmeshed in another contract scam? This may be why many think
Bettagate: President Tinubu Summons Minister of Interior
In apparent reaction to public outcry, President Tinubu has summoned the Minister of Interior, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to the Presidential Villa amidst a burgeoning scandal within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The controversy centers on a N438 million consultancy contract awarded to New Planet Projects Ltd, a company reportedly linked to the minister. Dr. Beta Edu, the embattled Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, faced swift suspension by President Tinubu over alleged involvement in the contentious payment. Dr. Edu underwent interrogation earlier today at the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. The escalating situation prompted the President’s intervention, with the summons aiming to address the concerning developments within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. The unfolding saga has sparked inquiries into government contract protocols and possible irregularities, amplifying calls for transparency and accountability in ministry operations.
PRESIDENT TINUBU SUSPENDS MINISTER OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND POVERTY ALLEVIATION FROM OFFICE
In line with his avowed commitment to uphold the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the management of the commonwealth of Nigerians, President Bola Tinubu suspends the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, from office with immediate effect. The President further directs the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct a thorough investigation into all aspects of the financial transactions involving the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, as well as one or more agencies thereunder. This was contained in a release signed by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity). The suspended Minister is hereby directed to hand over to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and she is further directed by the President to fully cooperate with the investigating authorities as they conduct their investigation. Furthermore, the President has tasked a panel that is headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance to, among other functions, conduct a comprehensive diagnostic on the financial architecture and framework of the social investment programmes with a view to conclusively reforming the relevant institutions and programmes in a determined bid to eliminate all institutional frailties for the exclusive benefit of disadvantaged households and win back lost public confidence in the initiative. These directives of the President take immediate effect.
Accountant General Refutes Payment Claims by Ministry, Citing Illegality in Private Account Transaction
The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation has refuted payment claims made by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, insisting that payment into private account was illegal and in contravention of civil service procedures. The OAGF said that transaction was illegal and emphasizes adherence to established procedures for financial transactions after Ministry’s request for payment clarification. A statement released by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) and signed by Bawa Mokwa, Director (Press) addressed reports regarding a request made by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for payment disbursement to vulnerable groups in certain states. The AGF, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, clarified the operational protocols of the OAGF in the wake of media speculations. Dr. Madein categorically stated that the OAGF does not execute payments on behalf of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the execution of projects and programs. Instead, allocations are disbursed to self-accounting MDAs in alignment with budgetary stipulations, and these entities are solely responsible for the execution and financial disbursement of their respective projects. The AGF emphasized that while the Ministry in question did forward a payment request, the OAGF did not facilitate the transaction. Instead, the Ministry was duly advised on the proper procedures to adhere to when effecting such payments, ensuring compliance with established financial protocols. Clarifying the payment procedure, Dr. Madein highlighted that disbursements are typically processed by the relevant Ministries as independent entities, emphasizing that funds are not to be transferred en masse to individual accounts under the guise of a project’s accountant. She stressed the necessity of routing such payments directly to verified beneficiaries through their authenticated bank accounts. Expressing a steadfast commitment to maintaining transparency and accountability in the management of public finances, Dr. Madein urged MDAs to consistently uphold requisite measures in conducting financial transactions.