Mr Olusegun Bamgbose, Coordinator, Concerned Citizens of Nigeria, an NGO, on Tuesday in Abuja, stressed the need to save the National Assembly from corrupt officials.
Bamgbose made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to direct its searchlight on alleged budget padding involving some lawmakers.
Bamgbose also called for total overhauling of NASS in order to rescue the nation’s evolving democracy, saying that “ NASS had been polluted.”
He said allegations and counter allegations between Rep. Abdulmunini Jibrin and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara amounted to open show of shame.
“As concerned citizens of Nigeria, we have a choice, either to act and rescue our nation or watch our nation falling. If we refuse to contain and curtail corruption, it will crush us.
“It has been alleged that 10 Chairmen of Committees inserted 2,000 fictitious projects worth N248 billion into the 2016 Budget.
“These are weighty and damning allegations. Therefore, we call on relevant agencies to investigate the allegations in order to get to the root of the matter’’, Bamgbose said.
The coordinator added that the ongoing fight against corruption would be a mockery if the allegations were swept under the carpet.
Bamgbose, therefore, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to resist any pressure to back down or slow down in his fight against corruption.
“Don’t allow some politicians to mess up your hard earned integrity and credibility which have won you accolades within and outside the country’’, he said.
He urged the Attorney General of the Federation not to withdraw the charges against the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. (NAN)
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