Shehu Sani: Maina saga has exposed the disjointed state of Buhari’s govt

Shehu Sani, senator representing Kaduna central, says the reinstatement of  Abdulrasheed Maina, former chairman, Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), has exposed the disjointed nature of the current administration.

Maina, who is facing corruption allegations, was posted to the ministry of interior under controversial circumstances.

Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, had earlier said it was the office of the head of the civil service that posted Maina to his ministry.

This had generated widespread condemnation before President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Maina’s dismissal.

Speaking on Tuesday on a Channels TV programme, Sani said the incident raises questions about the federal government’s “claim of fighting corruption”.

“What is clear in the whole of these (Maina’s case) is the very fact that things have not actually changed very much in the very sense that if a man who has an issue to settle with morality, with sanity could at these very times be re-invited or recalled, then moral issues certainly were raised,” he said.

“It is also a revelation of the discord and the disjointed state of government as it is now.

“It also shows the very fact that some persons are behind the scene wielding very strong powers to which their wielding of power is directly in contradiction with what the president stands for, believes in, and advertises as the moral principles of his government.”

Responding to a question on why the senate was investigating Maina’s reinstatement after Buhari ordered a probe, Sani said it is good for Nigerians to have “a buffet” of Maina’s report.

He said the upper chamber intends to investigate the circumstances leading to his return to Nigeria as well as how he was reinstated without the knowledge of the president.

Sani said: “By having two reports, it would be impossible for anyone who will try to suppress it (the investigation).

“The very fact that the president now has taken a stand by reversing the recall is a clear indication that it was possibly done without his knowledge of it.

“But the fact as it is on the ground now is that the senate will fully investigate and come out with its report. What will not happen will be a situation whereby reports will be hidden from the public and naturally if the parliament is investigating issues, reports are usually made public.

“We are serious about this and Nigerians will come to know the truth of how Maina came back and those who are responsible; we would not allow it to be a family affair and that’s why the senate has to investigate.”