₦airaland Forum

Prof. Itsejuwa Esanjumi Sagay (SAN) is the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC). He also holds the title of Olufusi of Warri Kingdom (a.k.a Ogodobiri). In this exclusive interview with TEMIDAYO AKINSUYI, he spoke on wide-ranging issues such as clamour for restructuring, leakage of sensitive documents, his criticisms of the National Assembly and other issues of national interests. Excerpts:

The APC leadership has accused you of indicting President Muhammadu Buhari in your recent interview where you described the party leadership as conniving with corrupt politicians. Do you think they are trying to create a wedge between you and the president?

I have responded to all these allegations by saying I am not a ‘come and chop’ politician. So, they cannot say I was done any particular service by being appointed to this position or to say I was brought out of obscurity into prominence. I accepted this position from President Buhari, a man I have tremendous respect for because I wish to serve; not because I have anything to gain. So, for anyone to say that the party, APC got me there is totally wrong and pure rubbish. The party never got me there. The party was not in any way involved in my appointment. It was the president who directly appointed me. That was why I told the APC leadership led by John Odigie- Oyegun that I am not a ‘come and chop’ politician like them. So, the question of losing a position can never arise in my life.

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) said the APC is attacking you because you are exposing many of their corrupt members which they are not comfortable with. Is that truly the case?

Absolutely that is the case. They are not happy with what I am saying or doing because they are very cozy with the corrupt members. They are encouraging them, aligning with them and enjoying a close relationship with them and they are pretending as if they don’t know that those people have done anything or they are a danger to the future of the party. That is why they are offended because definitely when I attacked those who are corrupt who the APC leadership is encouraging through their attitude, then indirectly, I am attacking them. If you have a party of principled officers, and you have a group of people who are effectively enemies of the party, what you do is to try to get rid of them. Let them go to other place. It is better to have a small tightly-knit group of committed people than to have a loose group of moles and enemies while pretending to be a large party.

It was even reported in some dailies that the leadership of the party may formally report you to Mr. President that you are creating problems for the government through your utterances. What is your take on this?

I am not moved by all that. When you are acting on principles and you are doing the right thing, then you have nothing to fear. I don’t expect Mr. President to be carried away by that kind of thing which obviously is an action in self- preservation and promoting self-interest at the expense of the country. The APC will feel more comfortable if I am no longer there as PACAC chairman but this country is not meant for them to be comfortable. The job of a ruling party is not to make the executive of that party comfortable. The job of a ruling party is to serve and sacrifice for the country. That is my complaint against the Oyegun-led APC leadership. They don’t believe in the ethics of service or sacrifice and the people they are consulting with in my view, are the enemies of the country.

http://independent.ng/nass-not-contributing-anything-nigerias-progress-sagay/

Really?

That is not true prof. NASS is contributing looting and stealing because the NASS is an arm of the devil. Remember that the devil has come but to steal, the kill and to destroy.

efighter:
That is not true prof. NASS is contributing looting and stealing because the NASS is an arm of the devil. Remember that the devil has come but to steal, the kill and to destroy.

Lol!

Oga chose sides abeg and stop confusing Nigerians. Dis complete govt including d Legislative, Judiciary and Executive are all d same ppl only interested in contributing to their pockets

But Nigerians chose them nah

Nbote:
Oga chose sides abeg..

you don't chose sides ,because all sides have good and bad people..PDP and APC are filled with such people..so you criticise base on happenings not on political sentiment

babyfaceafrica:
you don't chose sides ,because all sides have good and bad people..PDP and APC are filled with such people..so you criticise base on happenings not on political sentiment

If he actually criticizes both all arms of d govt based on happenings den I'll have had no problem with his criticisms. He's been attacking d National Assembly and its leadership as if dey are wat is wrong with dis govt holding it back. Instead of attacking d executive also he attacks d ruling parties leadership instead

Who else saw how this attention seeker of a man was fidgeting yesterday on Sunday politics when Seun Okinloye took him up on the $26b scam?

Nbote:
If he actually criticizes both all arms of d govt based on happenings den I'll have had no problem with his criticisms. He's been attacking d National Assembly and its leadership as if dey are wat is wrong with dis govt holding it back. Instead of attacking d executive also he attacks d ruling parties leadership instead

The man is a fraud, he's only fighting a fight nobody sent him. He's attacking Jubrin's perceived enemies.

BeardedMeat:
Who else saw how this attention seeker of a man was fidgeting yesterday on Sunday politics when Seun Okinloye took him up on the $26b scam?

That seun hen, he is the nightmare of liers, he did sane to lai Mohammed sometimes ago ,the guy was so confused he became uncoordinated.

I totally agree with the erudite SAN. The NASS is the parasitic arm of government...particularly this current assembly of leeches.

surgical:
That seun hen, he is the nightmare of liers, he did sane to lai Mohammed sometimes ago ,the guy was so confused he became uncoordinated.

I really respect him.

Not only NASS. The entire APC government!

This loud-mouthed foolish prof.should take a sit.So all the executive corruption in the APC government is of NO concern to him except that of the Senate.Hypocrite.