Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, urged Nigerians on Friday to investigate candidates vying for public office in the general elections of 2023.
In order to hold their leaders accountable, she also urged Nigerians to gain a better understanding of the nation’s constitution.
The former minister was responding to a statement made by Atiku Abubakar, the PDP’s presidential contender, in an interview with Arise TV.
In the interview on Friday morning, the former vice president claimed that there was no rule in Nigeria prohibiting public officials from running their own enterprises while they were in office.
Atiku said that he acquired his money over the years through private companies while emphasising the necessity for the nation’s economy to be more diversified.
Ezekwesili, who reacted to the remark on her Twitter handle, said Atiku’s argument was at variance with the Section 2(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
She added that the section forbids every serving public officer from engaging in private ventures other than farming.
The ex-minister wrote: “The former VP was dead wrong! The only business permitted a public servant under the Nigerian Constitution is Farming. Please read: Part I, Fifth Schedule, Section 2 (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Conflict of interest breeds corruption.
“Imagine a former Vice President of Nigeria bragging about his business exploits while working as a public servant. Good that the citizens can now see the utter disregard Nigeria’s Political Class has for ‘Conflict of Interest Rules.’ Correlate it to Nigeria’s TI ranking.
“The current conditions of Nigeria cannot be addressed with tepid ideas that come across as ‘winging’ and this much should be clear to all. It should be clearer now that this country will struggle on should any of these Siamese Twins of Bad Governance carry on in 2023.
“Citizens, know your Constitution. Look, all you Nigerian citizens have come of age in this Democracy and should by now boldly probe anything that is spoken, written or done by those who seek to get you vote in the 2023 elections. Do yourselves a favor and never fail to boldly probe the candidates.”
