Tope Oshin
Senator representing Ogun East senatorial district in the 8th Senate, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has thrown his weight behind the ongoing anti-corruption crusade of the President Muhammed Buhari administration.
The lawmaker stated this when he spoke with journalists shortly after a reception organised for him and other national and state assemblies legislators by the leaders and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ijebu Igbo.
Kashamu, who is the Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration, said the ongoing probe into the alleged $2 billion arms deal was not misplaced, appealing to Nigerians to be patient with the Buhar’s administration.
He said: “The anti-corruption war launched by President Buhari has within a short time gone a long way in reducing the incidence of the social menace.”
The lawmaker noted that although such an anti-corruption war would result in some pains, it had become imperative to enable the government address the issues of development with a view to putting the country on a sound footing.
“The only way any government can repair a country is to start with an anti-corruption crusade. Corruption is not an issue that affects only the PDP. President Buhari has given a clear signal to everybody, including his ministers that whoever is corrupt would not go unpunished.
“Today, I can tell you that Nigeria has started gaining. The Treasury Single Account (TSA) has cleared over 30 per cent of the corruption in the system because before now, all the ministries and parastatals were doing whatever they liked with money and at the end of the year, they returned whatever they felt like returning to the treasury. But today, that is no longer possible. The BVN too has cleared over 25 to 30 per cent of corruption,” he said.
Kashamu therefore urged Nigerians to be patient with the President Buhari-led administration in order to reap the benefits of its current policies in the long run.
“If we want government to have money for infrastructure and development, the only way is to clear the Augean stable of corruption first. And if they want to do that, there is no way they won’t step on the toes of many people. If Nigerians want progress, we must be patient; we must be courageous and do everything we can to support this government and see what they can do in the next one and a half years,” he added.
Earlier, while addressing members of the PDP during the reception, Kashamu enjoined all Nigerians to join hands with the government in building a strong parliament, an upright police force, an independent judiciary, a free press, a vibrant private sector and a robust civil society.
He assured of his commitment to sponsor bills that would cater for the weak and the less-privileged in the society.
Apparently referring to his recent travails in the hands of the operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Kashamu said in spite of the distractions, he had been able to sponsor three bills which are at various stages in the Senate.
He listed the bills to include the Mental Health Bill, the National Security Tax Fund and FRSC Act Amendment Bill.
“I am also happy to report that within six months of going to Abuja, I have been able to lobby and attract two constituency projects to Ogun East senatorial district.
“As I speak now, the contractors building a block of three classrooms with VIP toilet and furnishing are already at Japara High School, Ijebu Igbo and Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Isiwo, Ijebu Ode. By the grace of God, others will follow shortly.
“I have also issued over 75 letters of recommendation to Ogun State indigenes seeking employment or admission in various organisations across the country,” the law maker said.
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