Ways and Means Probe: group welcomes probe, urges committee to invite ex AGF Ahmed Idris, others.

As the economy and social wellbeing falters, many Nigerians are thrown into extreme poverty. What majority of Nigerians don't know is, it was not the making of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This was according to a paper presented during a roundtable discussion at Excelsior Center, Ajah in Lagos, yesterday by a group of Civil Society, under the umbrella of Omu'labi Forum.

The Convener of the roundtable and chairman of Civi-Watch, Barr. Funsho Benjamin, faulted those blaming the economic hardship on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying he inherited the mess from his predecessor, President Buhari, and his appointees, who wrecked the country under his nose. He said, "appointees who worked for the previous administration should be held responsible. Take for instance, the former Accountant-General of the federation Alhaji Ahmed Idris. He is standing trial for stealing over 109 billion. Can you imagine what you can do with that amount? Let me break it down for you. 109 billion, when infuse in the economy can jumpstart 15 thousand micro and small business across the 6 geopolitical zone in the country. It can build 6 standard hospitals across the geopolitical zones. The same amount can as well build and equip standard schools in same geopolitical zones". He continued, " when kleptomaniacs like Alhaji Ahmed Idris had looted the country dry, why would a sane person want to blame President Tinubu for the hardship, not the likes of the former thieving Accountant General", he queried.

Speaking earlier, board member of the forum and co-convener Mr Shittu Adewale welcome the Senate's intervention and willingness to probe the Ways and Means, of the past administration which 30 trillion was looted through frivolous means by officials of the past administration, chiefly among them was the former Accountant General. According to him, ' "every payment of government money passes through the office of the accountant general. So, therefore, as a known kleptomaniac, with a history of financial recklessness, he by all means must be invited by the committee probing the Ways and Means, because we have it on good authority, and with irrefutable evidence of his involvement". He continued, " these unpatriotic lots were the ones that should be blamed, not president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the mess we're in in right now. They, not Tinubu were the ones who plunged the country into the abyss of hopelessness". He concluded, "given the humongous amount involved, we're talking about 30 trillion here. This is akin to treachery. Those fingered especially the former Accountant General should be tried for treason, locked up for the rest of his life".

Many speakers at the event asked Nigerians not to blame President Tinubu for the country's woes. Rather, Nigerians should ask questions on how the past administration ran the country, together with some appointees, who wrecked the country.
Different civil society groups from the Southwest were in attendance and spoke on a wider range of issues bordering on corruption, rule of law and role of the judiciary in building a resilient Nigeria.