Abuja – Mr Gbemiga Olakunle, the General Secretary, National Prayer Movement, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination to recover looted funds in the possession of past government officials in the country.
The commendation is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday.
Olakunle urged the president to beam his searchlight on the huge sums of public funds that had been laundered through acquisition of landed properties within and outside Nigeria.
“This pragmatic step taken towards the nation’s economic recovery is indeed commendable and should be applauded.
“Apart from their domiciliary and foreign accounts, some of them may have laundered the looted funds on real estate and properties in major cities at home and abroad.
“These luxurious residential and office accommodation that are still left unoccupied for more than three years belong to these officials including their cronies,’’ he said.
He also urged state governors to shun extravagant and the execution of projects not relevant to the needs of their people.
He decried the attitude of the governors who were still collecting their full salaries while workers continued to suffer over unpaid salaries.
“In order to avoid the cries of being witch-hunted, the Federal Government should persuade the Governors’ Forum to shun ostentatious living and execution of white elephant projects.
“It is a misplacement of priorities on the part of these governors to divert handouts they receive from Abuja to the building of governors’ lodge and other white elephant projects
“We expect governors to forfeit their salaries to empathise with their workers. Their first line of action should be payment of their workers’ salaries,’’ he said.
Olakunle also urged the president to work towards resolving the controversy surrounding the whereabouts of funds recovered from late Gen. Sani Abacha’s family. (NAN)
