Buhari warns committee members not to witch hunt anyone

President Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a 19-member transition committee with a charge to members not to engage in a witch hunt or fault finding.

He also announced that his administration would not witch-hunt anybody because he was aware that government is a continuum.

Buhari said this while inaugurating the Ahmed Joda-led transition committee in Abuja, on Wednesday.

While expressing gratitude to members of the committee for accepting to serve at very short notice, he explained that the change from one government to another always involves complicated operational challenges.

According to him, the incoming government needs to know where the previous government stopped so that it can know where to continue.

He noted that Nigeria was blessed with outstanding men and women of competence and experience in different fields out of which his team has picked the nineteen to ensure a smooth process.

Buhari told committee members, “this assignment though onerous, it is well within your ability to accomplish, you are required to assess the information provided to you and advise me on its quality and accuracy.”

He also said, “It is a simple matter but you must have the right information if you are to shape appropriate policy decisions. Needless to repeat; that your committee and our government are not to witch-hunt or engage in fault finding.

“We want the facts and nothing but the facts, what has been done cannot be undone, our job is to learn from the mistakes of the past in an attempt to avoid similar errors.

“The time given for you to complete your assignment, two weeks, is short but because of the postponement of the election for six weeks from February 14 to March 28, the transition period has been truncated, we are obliged therefore to fast track steps to May 29.”

The President elect also charged the committee to ensure that it does not overlook “essentials.”

Buhari who spoke glowingly about Mallam Ahmed Joda the committee chairman, described him as one of the few surviving links of the first republic civil service to the present day.

He enjoined members of the committee to be prepared to work hard because Joda is an exerting task master adding that very few young men of his age can keep up with him.

Chairman of the Committee, Mallam Ahmed Joda who spoke on behalf of other members expressed appreciation to the President elect for considering them to be worthy to help prepare the ground for the incoming administration to take over smoothly on May 29, 2015.

He said, “We as a committee are determined to do the best we can within the time that is allowed to accomplish your wishes and to make it possible for you to achieve your vision and all that you wish for  our country.

“When I met you and you briefed me about this assignment, about the composition of the committee, I did observe that I’ve never served on a committee so weighty like this.

“I have people who are distinguished in their professions, who have their own enterprises and have their own businesses to look after and even serving governors and people in active service to the service of your incoming government and to the service of our motherland.”

He explained to the gathering that members of the committee met for the first time on Wednesday to get to meet and know one another and plan the committee’s schedule of activities over the next two weeks.

Joda also noted that members of the committee were committed and willing to work long hours even on weekends to deliver on their tasks.

“I promise you that we’ll do our best because we are not only serving you, we are serving our people. We are going to try to begin to lay the foundation for a strong country where justice and peace prevail.” He said.

The chairman expressed the opinion that Nigerians entrusted general Buhari with the task of healing their wounds and wiping away their tears and leading our nation to greatness because of the confidence they have in his ability.

Joda also said, “I pledge every one of us will give you the best and most earnest advice from the bottom of our hearts in order that our country, together in peace and unity can realize our goals and aspirations.

“I thank you once again on behalf of my members and I wish you every success, your success is our success and the success of our children and grandchildren and the citizens of Nigeria.”

Members of the committee are: Ahmed Joda, Dr. Doyin Salami, Adamu Adamu,Wale Edun, Mrs. Bola Adesola, Dr. Festus Odumegu and Mrs. Nike Aboderin and the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Oyegun.

Others are: Rivers State Governor, Rotimi  Amaechi, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Boss Mustapha, Sen. Hadi  Sirika, Dr. Ogbonaya Onu, Alh. Abubakar Malami, Gen. Lawal Jafar Isa, Mohammed Hayatudeen, Solomon Dalong, Prof. Tam David West and the national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Buhari warns committee members not to witch hunt anyone