Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during the February 25, 2023, presidential election on Tuesday, commended President Bola Tinubu over the suspension of his Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
News About Nigeria reported that the President suspended Betta Edu over her alleged transfer of N585 million to a private account on Monday.
The President also directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate all the financial transactions that involve the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry.
In a statement released by Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the former vice president lamented the fact that the money that was designed to help over 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty is now being enjoyed by successive All Progressives Congress (APC), governments.
Atiku also slammed President Tinubu for appointing Edu to serve as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, noting that she was not qualified to serve in that capacity in the first place.
The former vice president queried why Betta Edu, who was less competent, was picked as the humanitarian minister instead of Imaan Ibrahim, despite her wealth of experience.
In his own words, “While Tinubu deserves commendation for suspending Edu, we believe this is a belated move. First, he had no business appointing her as a minister of such a sensitive ministry in the first place. Tinubu put politics ahead of competence, hence this scandal.”
Atiku also called for a proper investigation into the ministry, noting that Edu was not the only one involved in the crime.
He further called for a reform in the humanitarian affairs ministry to put an end to the ministry’s new assignment as “an ATM and POS for those in power.”
