Buhari issues stern warning to party men, appointees or office holders, extorting the public for personal gains

The presidency has warned all political appointees, party men or office holders, against extorting innocent citizens. This warning was given by Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to president Muhammadu Buhari.

According to the presidency, this became important following a series of complaints from the public, on extortion and influence peddling by political appointees.

The Presidency has issued a stern warning to political appointees, govt officials and party men against influence peddling for corrupt pecuniary gains and other forms of extortion.

Mr Garba Shehu told State House Correspondents on Tuesday in Abuja that complaints of extortions of innocent people by what he called “self-serving name droppers and influence peddlers” is causing increasing embarrassment to the Presidency.

“President Muhammadu 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 advantages.”

Shehu explained that “the President would not tolerate any conduct by anybody to use his name to extort innocent people,” as this isn’t short of corruption.

The Presidential spokesman on Media and Publicity, noted that the President isn’t one to tolerate corruption and as such “those who are not genuinely committed to this vision would be weeded out once caught and punished accordingly.”

Nigerians were also advised to report any govt official, office holder or appointee, caught using the President’s name or that of his aides/appointees to extort the public, as they will be dealt serious with by the Buhari led government.