Chairman, Board of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and Nigeria’s former High Commissioner to Ghana, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has berated the Nigerian media for beaming its searchlight on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the expense of what is going on in All Progressives Congress, APC-controlled states, particularly, Lagos.
Obanikoro, a former PDP governorship aspirant in Lagos State, said that while the media blew corruption cases involving the ruling party out of proportion, it failed to highlight an even higher level of corruption going on at the states controlled by APC.
Speaking with select journalists at the weekend, Obanikoro, who stressed that the PDP-led Federal Government had been fighting corruption since 1999, and is leading the way in terms of accountability and transparency in governance, described Lagos State as a cesspool of corruption.
According to him: “What is good about the federal level is that whatever the people of the country complained about, we don’t hide them nor put them in the closet. We are dealing with them; people are being arrested and put in jail.
“Tell me, how many local government chairmen or councilors have they tried for corruption or put behind bars since 1999 that they have been managing affairs of this state? There is a cesspool of corruption in Lagos state from any angle you may look at it”, he added.
On the N255 million bullet proof cars scandal rocking the aviation ministry, Obanikoro said: “Oh yes! Accusation has been made in the open. Panels have been set up to look into the matter and the president has received the report. I am sure in good time; he would come out with a position. Be that as it may, nobody can sweep under the carpet what PDP had done to tackle corruption. Their party has not done anything. That is what we are saying. Everything they have accused us of doing, they are worse off.
“They accused Stella Oduah of buying two armoured cars for N255 million. The one the Lagos state governor is riding up and down is more expensive than Oduah’s cars. He is a public officer too who draws his salary from tax payer’s money.
“It is the same standard, it doesn’t matter. It is even more damning for the governor because he is elected by the people and he is supposed to uphold the trust and confidence of the people of Lagos. So, their own is even worse in that case but it is unfortunate the media refuse to look at that area. I am in the know of the cost but I am putting it to you to do the investigation on the cost of those two jeeps which our governor uses as official car”, the former senator said.
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