Buhari should stop Study Leave, others – Matawalle
GOVERNOR Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to prohibit ranking officials from going on leave before the inauguration of president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
Matawalle, in a statement, said Buhari must stop certain heads of government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, from proceeding on study leave, noting that they must give an account of all developments under their watch to the incoming administration.
He said: “Beyond the remarkable achievements of his administration in all sectors, President Buhari has demonstrated that he is a patriot, democrat and a man of impeccable integrity and character. Perhaps more than ever before, this has been on display even in the twilight of his administration.
“Buhari has about two weeks left of his eventful tenure. Last week, he and his family officially moved out of their residence at Aso Rock Presidential Villa into a place called the Glass House, also within the precinct of the Villa.
“I want, here and now, to urge President Buhari to not approve any study leave or whatever kind of Leave for any officer critical to the take-off of the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu.
“If the Leave of any critical officer has been approved, as reported in the media, the President should cancel it in the interest of peaceful transfer of power, accountability and good governance.
“Two of my brother-governors and I took the Federal Government to court over the ill-advised policy and fought resolutely until we got a respite for our people from Emefiele and company.”
“I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to President Buhari to also not approve foreign postings or grant any foreign travels for any officer at any level in the outgoing government, who may be critical or strategic to the smooth take-off of the incoming government. I’m aware that some officers in the outgoing government are moving to surreptitiously leave the country at this critical time. They are needed to answer specific questions, though I would not want to mention their names here.“ ”It’s also not in the interest of the country, which the president has always promoted and championed. This is my appeal and why I have decided to speak out as a patriotic Nigerian and concerned governor,” he added.
(Vanguard)