Pulse.ng : Arewa group backs Shehu Mahdi on concerns over reinstatement of Beta Edu

By Sani Idris

A Northern group, Coalition of Arewa Civil Society, has throw their weight behind human rights activists, Shehu Mahdi following his recent comment on the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. Beta Edu.

Shehu Mahdi, last week, accused the presidency of alledgedly reinstating Edu through the wide open front door of the Villa, a development he stated would discredit the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration on claims of promoting morality, decency, accountability, and good governance.

Reacting to Mahdi’s position in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Coalition, Comrade Mohammed Usman and made available to newsmen on Monday in Kaduna, the group stated that it was the first time Mahdi spoke their mind as a northern elder statesman, adding that it will be a serious error to see Edu reinstated into the office.

Accusing the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC of protecting her, Mohammed noted that it’s very wrong for the suspended Minister to use the ministry’s letterhead for public function, while the former Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) Godwin Emefiele and others are going through trial.

The group called on president Tinubu and the EFCC to make their findings about Beta Edu ready for public consumption within the next seven days, threatening that, failure to do so would lead to the coalition mobilizing and staging protests across the nineteen northern states.

The northern group further reiterated that Edu should not be allowed to hold any position in Nigeria again, because of the disgrace she had caused Nigeria amongst Committee of Nations, not to talk of reinstating her to the Humanitarian Affairs’ Ministry or any.

“We are saddened by the development surrounding the humanitarian Affairs Ministry. This was one of the critical agencies of government capable of turning the current situation in our nation around considering the role it plays in alleviating the plights of the citizenry.

“As a coalition, we have follow the happenings under the ministry keenly, hoping to see the outcome of the investigation by EFCC on the alledged corrupt practices levelled against the Edu’s leadership under the ministry but unfortunately, there is no feedback after how many months.

“We want to make our position very clear that what our Elder Statesman, Shehu Mahdi said represent the voice of the nineteen northern states in Nigeria. As a group, we have had several disagreement with Shehu Mahdi’s but on this particular one, we recognize his legendary and his patriotism towards the development of our dear nation, Nigeria.

“There is no doubt that the EFCC is aiding and abetting Edu’s alledged misappropriation, hence the reason why they remained mute to the point where a Minister under suspension could boldly use the letterhead of the ministry to condole the people of Jos , without any consequences.

“It is very clear that Edu is trying to maneuver her way back to the ministry to continue to dent the image of the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration.

“It is on this note that we call on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the EFCC to make public their findings on the alledged misappropriation of funds in the Humanitarian Affairs’ ministry under the leadership of Beta Edu within the next seven days.

“In a clear terms, Edu should not be given any political appointment in Nigeria due to the disgrace that she brought upon Nigeria amongst Committee of Nations, not to talk of reinstating her back as the Humanitarian Affairs’ Minister.

“Other public office holders like the former governor of central Bank, (CBN) Godwin Emefiele among others are still undergoing this trial. Edu should not be given any political appointment in Nigeria due to the disgrace that she brought upon Nigeria amongst Committee of Nations, not to talk of reinstating her back as the Humanitarian Affairs’ Minister. Why is the case of Beta Edu different, is she above the law?” The group questioned.