Politics
… condemns media trial
By Anthony Isibor
THE Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Youth Wing has called on Nigerians to give Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation the benefit of the doubt until the series of investigations into her involvement in the alleged N583m financial wrongdoing proves her to be complicit
In a press conference addressed by Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the national youth leader of the Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Youth Wing, on Sunday urged the Nigerian public to allow her fair hearing and let the ongoing investigations run the course without media trial.
The group also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his proactiveness and adherence to the Rule of Law on the issue of the alleged N583m financial wrongdoing and for setting up a presidential panel to investigate and look into the veracity of the allegations instead of sacking her outright.
Rallying support for the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, he noted that the actions of some persons in the media, reveal those who wanted her out of favour with the Federal Government and are sustaining the spins to her disadvantage.
According to the statement, media trial is unfair since President Tinubu has suspended her to allow for transparent and unimpeded investigation.
“The best thing to do in the circumstance is to allow the process of investigation to conclude instead of crucifying her as if she had been found to be guilty.
“There is the need to find what the problem really was about the memo she put up to the Accountant General of the Federation, although, the Accountant General had said that she did not honour the payment.
“If that was correct and we also give her (Accountant General) the benefit of the doubt that she would not have lied, then the subject of investigation of the N583 million could as well pale down to the propriety of routing the memo, and perhaps the request for the sum to be paid into a personal account of a project accountant.
“That would only be a matter of administrative infelicity and not financial heists since the Accountant General had confirmed that she did not honour the payment.
“We are of the view that Nigerians should hold their peace during the pendency of the series of investigations, which we believe would either prove or disprove wrongdoing.
The group said that Edu, as a young, vibrant and brilliant woman had from the outset of her ministerial stewardship warmed her way into their hearts as a result of her demonstrable commitment and zeal in applying herself to her assignment.
It also noted that if it is confirmed in the long run that Edu had committed some administrative infractions and not necessarily monetary diversion, it shall urge the President to review her suspension and allow her to continue as a member of his cabinet.
“Betta was entrusted with a ministry as huge as the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and everyone can attest to the fact that she remains one of the best in the Tinubu-led Government, We must be careful not to throw away the baby with the bathwater,” it added.
A.
-January 15, 2023 @ 12:19 GMT|
Tags: Anthony Isibor Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Youth Wing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
