Judiciary, Frustrating My Anti-Corruption Policy – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, revealed that he was
constrained in fighting corruption, owing to the uncooperative
nature of the judicial arm of government.

He accused the judiciary of dispensing justice at a snail speed
making gains in the anti-graft war look minimal.

The President bared his mind in Jalingo on Thursday, while
addressing traditional rulers before he proceeded to the Jolly
Nyame Stadium, venue of his presidential campaign rally in Taraba
state.

The President, who was received earlier on arrival along with
his entourage at the Danbaba Suntai Airport by Governor Darius
Ishaku, was reacting to an appeal by the monarchs to facilitate the
release of the convicted former Taraba state Governor, Reverend
Jolly Nyame on corruption charges.

Specifically, the Emir of Muri, Abbas Tafida who represented the
Chairman of the traditional Council in Taraba state, Shekaro Angyu
Masaibi had sought President Buhari’s intervention for the release
of Rev Nyame on compassionate ground having demonstrated remorse
while in detention.

Applauding President Buhari’s leadership role which he noted was
characterised by selflessness and commitment to rid the nation of
graft, the monarch said the nation was in dire need of people who
are out to make sacrifices for the citizens, and called on
Nigerians to consider the President as God’s gift to the
country.

“As a father, I want to make one plea to you and I ask you to be
patient. Our former Governor, Reverend Jolly Nyame is convicted of
criminal acts and is now in prison. I acknowledge and accept the
action of our judiciary.

“I acknowledge and accept the need to correct this country by
taking punitive measures on anybody who violates the law for his
selfish purpose.

“But as a father, Mr President sir, I want to say I have seen
him and I have known that he has regretted his actions. I have seen
him and have accepted that he has seen a lot of corrections, and as
a father I cannot hide my innate sympathy.

“I will therefore, not now, but at the right time and I say it
for all to hear, come with a delegation to plead for your mercy at
the right time in the right manner and in consideration of the
overall national interest.

“We are not going to ask you to do anything out of the way. And
we are not going to change your policy of correcting Nigeria.
Nigeria must be corrected and must be corrected now and you are the
right person to do it.

“But, please Mr President…we here live by law and to love one of
us is not out of place.”

He said as monarchs, the traditional rulers in Taraba state will
not coerce citizens to vote for any particular candidate in the
forthcoming elections unlike what obtained in the past.

“We are not going to force, direct or coerce anybody into voting
anybody. We are going to stand neutral, we are going to guide our
people into the importance of voting and standing to support their
votes.

“And we call on the political participants to understand that
voting is God’s gift to all of us and nobody should do anything to
abuse the programme of democracy.”

But President Buhari, responded by noting that his
administration was determined to address issues aimed at boosting
the nation’s economy including fighting insecurity.

His words: “I have taken note of the representation of your
representative about the former Governor here who was convicted
with another governor.

“I have taken note of that, but look at the time it took from
looking at the books to successfully prosecute him and his other
colleague from Plateau state. There are a lot others.

“This system is very slow and since it is the system we have to
follow it. I came in a different system I treated it differently.
But I too, I was treated differently. So, I have this
experience.”

President Buhari thereafter proceeded to the stadium, venue of
the rally where thousands of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
supporters had thronged to receive him along with the National
Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and Secretary to the Government
of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustafa.

Among those who accompanied the President were former Governors
of Bauchi and Borno states, Isa Yuguda, Ali Modu Sheriff as well as
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.