Mention names or keep quiet, Presidency relies Ndume on allegation of fraud by COVID-19 committee

Barely 24 hours after Ali Ndume, the senator representing Borno South Senatorial District accused the Federal Government Committee on COVID-19 headed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Farouq of fraud, the Presidency has responding asking Senator Ndume to mention names or shut up.

Garba Shehu, presidential spokesman in a statement on Friday, said President Buhari since his election to office has always insisted that officials of his government exhibit the highest commitment, discipline, and integrity in their approach to work noting that those who fell short along the way had been shown the door.

He said as a leader President Buhari believes in loyalty and truthfulness feels it proper that individuals found to be serving themselves and not the people, should be called but that this must be done on the basis of evidence and proof – not on conjecture.

“It is therefore disappointing to hear a politician call out unnamed individuals in the administration and accuse them of unnamed transgressions. If this politician has evidence – then he should make public their identities as well as his proof. Innuendo is not proof. Similarly, simply claiming that the COVID-19 Palliative Measures Committee is not functioning as it should is not the same as presenting proof for such a claim.

The presidential spokesman said no one replaces an institutional government body in the midst of the global pandemic without clear and irrefutable evidence that it needs replacing noting that, “a press briefing from a discontented politician is rarely the source of such evidence”.

He said what was needed at this time Nigeria is battling the Coronavirus was for everyone to help the fight and not seek to make political capital out of it, whatever his or her grievances.