Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka, has expressed his dislike for President Bola Tinubu’s recent comment on bribe-seeking officials in government.
President Tinubu during a meeting in Qatar had told a gathering of investors to report any Nigerian official asking for a bribe, saying the country is removing all roadblocks to investments.
Reacting to the comment, Chidoka in an interview with Channels TV, said the statement was uncalled for as it demarkets Nigeria in the eyes of investors.
Chidoka said: “It was an unfortunate statement. I was shocked and embarrassed that he was continuing Buhari’s type of de-marketing of Nigeria.There are many Nigerians who will not ask for a bribe or disturb people. The people who will probably ask you for a bribe are in the minority. The job of the President is to sell Nigeria, to be the chief spokesperson and chief salesperson of Nigeria.
“I think this is the lacuna that comes when there is a poor briefing from the agencies of government. I don’t really blame the President. I blame the inability of people like the Minister of Information and Foreign Affairs for the theme of the government.
“The government has to have a theme like we are pro-investment, we want to attract foreign exchange. Our mission is to deodorise Nigeria, to tell a good story about Nigeria, to tell Africa’s rising narrative, and to say that this change of government is a new mandate that tells you how Nigeria has been able to sustain democracy for 24 going to 25 years now.
“So the story about Nigeria is not a story of bribery and corruption. And we don’t want a President who people are calling from Qatar to report a bribe. They should report them to the police, EFCC, ICPC, or any other office of government that deals with that.”
