Guardian MILITARY LOOTED NATION THE MOST, SAYS YAKASAI Category: National Published: Saturday, 23 November 2013 21:00 Written by EDITOR Absolves Shagari, Monguno, Maitama Sule WHILE many Nigerians might accuse politicians of helping themselves from the nation’s coffers, and some might even wish a return of the Generals, Mallam Tanko Yakasai, says the military have been the worst pilferers in the country’s history. Prominent politician and elder statesman from Kano, Yakasai made the disclosure in an interview he granted Hausa newspaper, Rariya, subsequently published in English by Premium Times. The former adviser to President Shehu Shagari on National Assembly matters was reacting to a question on why the Shagari administration was toppled in a coup led by Major General Buhari. In an edition of Rariya, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme had denied allegation by Buhari’s government that Shagari was overthrown because of widespread corruption. Ekwueme, according to Rariya, had stated that it was Southern papers, mainly owned by top UPN stalwarts that were spreading the false rumour. “What he (Ekwueme) said is true,” said Yakasai. “There is widespread corruption, even now, but the newspapers only focus their attention wherever they want, not necessarily where the corruption is taking place. You see newspaper looking the other way, even if they knew something wrong is happening in a particular place because of certain interests. “After the military coup, we had soldiers who stole so much that up till now, no one has stolen as much as they did. I don’t have to mention names. Just check critically yourself, from the time of Gowon to date, between the military guys and civilians like Shagari whom we were in government together with, and whom we have been in politics with for over 60 years, who stole the most? “Shagari began politics with the Sokoto youth party, and I with Kano youth party in 1946. And Shagari began before me by one year, and he is older than me with one year. Go and see at least three people who started politics in that era, people such as Shagari, Ali Monguno and Maitama Sule; they have held all sorts of positions. But go and meet people close to them and let them tell you how much each has in his bank account. I swear to you none of them has more than three million naira in his account, except may be one person, and even you see it there, may be someone gave it to them. They were just engaged in politics and not stealing. “Shagari and Alex Ekwueme were investigated for more than 20 months. At the end of the day, Justice Ayo Irekefe said Alex Ekwueme went into politics a rich man and left as a poor man. They investigated Shagari extensively, but could not establish a case of stealing a dime before they let him be. “But we saw what the person investigating him did afterwards; he is still extremely rich.”
Posted on: Sun, 24 Nov 2013 09:03:35 +0000
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