President Muhammmadu Buhari on Tuesday called on Nigerians to expose any of his aides and political appointees extorting money from them in his name.
This is just as the President also issued a stern warning to political appointees, government officials and partymen against influence peddling for corrupt pecuniary gains and other forms of extortion.
Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, revealed this to State House Correspondents Tuesday in Abuja, adding that complaints of extortion of innocent people by “self-serving name droppers and influence peddlers” is causing increasing embarrassment to the Presidency.
Shehu, who stressed that President Buhari’s commitment to the fight corruption on all fronts in his government remains unchanged, added that “those who are not genuinely committed to this vision would be weeded out once caught and punished accordingly.”
According to Shehu, “President Buhari had made it very clear since his inauguration that he won’t tolerate any form of impropriety by his appointees, aides and government officials who abuse and misuse their offices for illegal financial advantage.”
The media aide explained that using one’s office or influence for private advantage or financial gains is corruption, warning that “the President would not tolerate any conduct by anybody to use his name to extort innocent people.”
The media aide advised Nigerians to report any government official or appointees using the President’s name or that of his aides and appointees to extort the public.
Shehu said “ the current zero tolerance for corruption by the Buhari administration won’t condone this repugnant culture in government or public business.
