Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu will be vindicated at the end of the ongoing probe into the all financial transactions involving the ministry she superintend, a group known as the Arewa Youths, has said.
The youths from across the 19 Northern states, said on the contrary, those who looted palliatives and are scared of Edu’s stance on their crooked ways and have instigated all that culminated into her present travails will not triumph but be put to shame.
In a statement issued on Monday, they said the minister had in her few months in office gave real definition to what the ministry stand for and not just a conduit pipe for diverting public funds that are meant for addressing humanitarian crisis and alleviating poverty as it obtained previously.
They said if truly Edu was involved in what those running a smear campaign against her alleged, she would have been embraced by the traditional looters and diverters of palliatives and received their accolades as it was done in the last dispensation.
The youths said having come from region bedeviled by humanitarian crisis they can attest to her commitment, dedication and transparent running of the affairs of the ministry which benefited the north more than when one of their own was their.
They expressed bitterness that the minister’s ordeal is coming less than a week when she risked her life to visit the affected communities of recent heinous attacks in the Northern state of Plateau for on the spot assessment and giving of reliefs materials to survivors of dastardly acts.
The group called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the panel headed by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance conducting the investigation to be steadfast and not condone any form of interference by the prophets of doom who are already plotting to influence the outcome of the probe.
“Though we received in good faith President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu be suspended while EFCC should investigate all financial transactions in the Ministry she was overseeing – line with the administration’s integrity policies.
“But, one thing is certain that she will be vindicated and those who looted palliatives and being checkmated by her hence fighting back as it is said of corruption will not triumph. They will be exposed and put to shame and attract the wrath of Nigerians especially those of us from the north that she has shown concern and compassion on our plight.
“We want to ask where were the saints or defenders of the Humanitarian Ministry when monumental corruption was going on their? Because they were benefiting they all maintain sealed lips for four years and can of worms are just being opened now after those in charge have left. That’s a clear testimony that Dr Edu is not dancing to their looting song hence the resolve to bring her down at all cost,” the youths stated.
