Ayo Opadokun, Convener, Coalition of Democrats for Electoral Reform, yesterday, said that the non-confirmation of the acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, is an indication that President Muhammadu Buhari is no longer in firm control of his government.

President Buhari

He said it was surprising that the Department of State Services, DSS, a part of the executive arm of government, wrote a report against Magu, the head of the anti-corruption war, whose confirmation nomination by Buhari was at the Senate.

Opadokun said: “It (the non-confirmation of Magu by the Senate) is an unfortunate development, very unfortunate dimension to our national crisis. Our national crisis of identity is being further damaged by the conduct of the Nigerian state.

“First, I like to say that President Muhammadu Buhari by conduct and behaviour over Magu’s confirmation is indicating to his admirers and those who voted for him that he is no longer in control of his government. There are two or three major unfortunate developments that are showing a divided presidency, clearly telling Nigerians, perhaps that the Buhari we thought we knew in the 80s is totally a different personality now.

“The fact that the so-called DSS will now be writing a spurious and pedestrian report on Magu is an unfortunate dimension. I see this as humiliation of what Magu stands for and it is an unfortunate dimension to our so-called anti-corruption determination of President Buhari. Let me say clearly, President Buhari needs to be on his guard. The only reason that people voted for him was because of his promise to fight corruption because if we do not fight corruption, corruption will fight us and it fought us too badly.”