Buhari Shouldn’t Have Included Akpabio In His Ministerial List – Sagay

Sagay Disagrees With Buhari On Akpabio’s Nomination

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, (PACAC), Itse Sagay on Wednesday, faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to nominate Godswill Akpabio as Minister.

Sagay in his submission noted that Akpabio’s nomination contradicted the stance of the Buhari administration on corruption as the former Senate Minority Leader is still under investigation for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

He said this during a chat with Daily Independent, in which he, however, commended other choices on the nomination made by the President on those that will constitute his ministers during his second term in office as Nigeria’s president.

Naija News recalls the EFCC in 2015, began investigating Akpabio following accusations that he diverted over N100bn from Akwa Ibom state as governor between 2007 and 2015, an allegation which he has denied.

According to the PACAC chairman; “I am very happy about the excellent ministers that are appointed like Babatunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi, Lai Mohammed, Adamu Adamu and Hadi Sirika. I am also happy about the inclusion of the dynamic and highly resourceful Festus Keyamo, who is very young and will add fresh energy and ideas into the team.

“Also, a lot of tested hands and reliable political allies are also there who committed to carrying out the programmes are also included such as George Akume, who is the leader of APC in Benue.

“Altogether, I am happy even though I don’t know many of the names from the North but the ones I know, I am very happy about it.

“The only nominee I am not satisfied with is Godswill Akpabio. I don’t know how he got into the list. That is the only one I have a reservation about.

“You know when we have a programme in which anti-corruption is number one, if anybody is under investigation or not, I don’t think it is wise to include him in that list. But the president knows why he did that. Apart from that, I am quite happy with the list.”

Naija News reports Akpabio was not questioned when he appeared before the Senate on Wednesday as the lawmakers concluded he should take a bow and go because he was a former lawmaker.