Not Probing Past Military Spending Rewards Corruption,” Sani Warns Tinubu

Senator Shehu Sani urges President Tinubu to investigate past military expenditures, stating that failure to do so could encourage corruption and undermine accountability in Nigeria’s defense sector.

Shehu Sani, a former federal legislator, has criticized President Bola Tinubu for stating that he does not plan to investigate military expenditures during Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Sani, who served as the representative for Kaduna Central Senatorial District during the 8th National Assembly, stated that the President’s position contradicts his investigation into former activities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under its troubled head, Godwin Emefiele.

During a media chat on Monday, Tinubu stated that he would not investigate military spending during Buhari’s administration. However, Sani argued on Tuesday’s episode of Channels Television’s “Politics Today” program that this decision equates to endorsing theft and corruption.

The former lawmaker stated that when a nation is confronted with significant challenges, it’s important to revisit and assess how embezzled public funds have been retrieved. He noted efforts in this regard, citing recent actions involving the Central Bank as an example of such progress.

However, when a panelist questioned Tinubu regarding the looting and mismanagement of security and defense forces during Buhari’s administration—which he needs to investigate—he seemed to indicate that he’s more focused on looking ahead rather than revisiting past issues. This stance appears somewhat contradictory; while it’s acceptable for him to address past issues with the Central Bank, delving into previous security matters seems off-limits.

I think that if he was presented with clear evidence of corruption, he should have taken action to recover public funds. That is what the response should have been.

Saying that the past is behind us is akin to condoning his theft by accepting his claim that he won’t repeat it.

Sani stated that the President should be held responsible for his policies and the actions of his ministers, especially given his assertion that all cabinet members are performing well.

“He (Tinubu) should be accountable for the events that have occurred during his administration. He has introduced economic reforms, which have resulted in considerable hardship and suffering for Nigerians. However, it is a universal truth throughout history that economic reforms rarely gain popularity among citizens,” he stated.