Our government will not witch-hunt anyone – Buhari

Our government will not witch-hunt anyone – Buhari

President Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a 19-member transition
committee with a charge to members not to engage in a witch hunt or fault
finding.
He also announced that his administration would not witch-hunt anybody because
he was aware that government is a continuum.
Buhari said this while inaugurating the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee in
Abuja, on Wednesday.
While expressing gratitude to members of the committee for accepting to serve at
very short notice, he explained that the change from one government to another
always involves complicated operational challenges.
According to him, the incoming government needs to know where the previous
government stopped so that it can know where to continue.
He noted that Nigeria was blessed with outstanding men and women of
competence and experience in different fields out of which his team has picked
the nineteen to ensure a smooth process.
Buhari told committee members, “this assignment though onerous, it is well within
your ability to accomplish, you are required to assess the information provided to
you and advise me on its quality and accuracy.”He also said, “It is a simple
matter but you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate
policy decisions. Needless to repeat; that your committee and our government
are not to witch-hunt or engage in fault finding.
“We want the facts and nothing but the facts, what has been done cannot be
undone, our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past in an attempt to avoid
similar errors.“The time given for you to complete your assignment, two weeks, is
short but because of the postponement of the election for six weeks from
February 14 to March 28, the transition period has been truncated, we are obliged
therefore to fast track steps to May 29.”The President elect also charged the
committee to ensure that it does not overlook “essentials.”Buhari who spoke
glowingly about Mallam Ahmed Joda the committee chairman, described him as
one of the few surviving links of the first republic civil service to the present day.
He enjoined members of the committee to be prepared to work hard because
Joda is an exerting task master adding that very few young men of his age can
keep up with him.
Chairman of the Committee, Mallam Ahmed Joda who spoke on behalf of other
members expressed appreciation to the President elect for considering them to be
worthy to help prepare the ground for the incoming administration to take over
smoothly on May 29, 2015.He said, “We as a committee are determined to do the
best we can within the time that is allowed to accomplish your wishes and to
make it possible for you to achieve your vision and all that you wish for our
country.“When I met you and you briefed me about this assignment, about the
composition of the committee, I did observe that I’ve never served on a
committee so weighty like this.
“I have people who are distinguished in their professions, who have their own
enterprises and have their own businesses to look after and even serving
governors and people in active service to the service of your incoming
government and to the service of our motherland.”He explained to the gathering
that members of the committee met for the first time on Wednesday to get to
meet and know one another and plan the committee’s schedule of activities over
the next two weeks.
Joda also noted that members of the committee were committed and willing to
work long hours even on weekends to deliver on their tasks.“I promise you that
we’ll do our best because we are not only serving you, we are serving our people.
We are going to try to begin to lay the foundation for a strong country where
justice and peace prevail.” He said.
The chairman expressed the opinion that Nigerians entrusted general Buhari with
the task of healing their wounds and wiping away their tears and leading our
nation to greatness because of the confidence they have in his ability.Joda also
said, “I pledge every one of us will give you the best and most earnest advice
from the bottom of our hearts in order that our country, together in peace and
unity can realize our goals and aspirations.“I thank you once again on behalf of
my members and I wish you every success, your success is our success and the
success of our children and grandchildren and the citizens of Nigeria.”
Members of the committee are: Ahmed Joda, Dr. Doyin Salami, Adamu
Adamu,Wale Edun, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Dr. Festus Odumegu and Mrs. Nike
Aboderin and the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John
Oyegun.
Others are: Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Boss
Mustapha, Sen. Hadi Sirika, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, Alh. Abubakar Malami, Gen.
Lawal Jafar Isa, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Solomon Dalong, Prof. Tam David West
and the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed.