Defection Will Not Save Corrupt Politician – Muhammed

The Federal government has assured that politicians, who are found culpable for corruption will not evade prosecution despite the series of defection experienced in the national politics.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister in charge of the Ministry of Information and Culture, made this known when he visited the management of Authority Newspaper in Abuja.

The minister insisted that politicians who decamped to the All Progressive Congress (APC) would not be exempted from punished if they are found to be corrupt.

Mohammed made this known while fielding questions from members of the editorial board of the paper.

“Nigerians should be rest assured that the fact that some persons are moving from one party to another does not mean that they will escape prosecution.

“Nobody will escape investigation and prosecution on the ground that he or she has moved to APC.

“We have shown that with a former governor and a member of our party that was convicted. We will never terminate anybody’s prosecution on the ground of decamping.

“However, it is not for the Executive to do the work of the Judiciary,’’ he said.

The minister added that the series of defection experienced in the national politics was as a result of “political calculation and personal reasons’’, and not premised on the allegation of escaping justice.

Mohammed insisted the the ruling party would not lose a sleep over the series of exodus of it members, especially members of the National Assembly to other parties.

“In the last two years, the National Assembly has been behaving as if the opposition is in control. We have a Senate President that is so hostile to the government.

“For three years, budgets are passed only in June. As I speak today, there has been no disbursement on capital project in 2018 budget.

“Critical appointments are also being delayed and the government is being blackmailed every day,’’ 

“I have never seen in history, where a leader of parliament will announce the defection of 15 members from his party.

“The proper thing is, if you are loyal to your party, you put stumbling blocks on such defection,’’ he said.

The assured further that Kwara State, his state, is solidly behind APC and President Muhammadu Buhari despite the defection of the senate president, Bukola Saraki and his allies in the state.