Muslim Rights Concern has decried the payment of N40 million to each Nigeria’s former presidents and heads of state.
In a statement signed by its director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, and made available to newsmen on Monday, the group described the development as heartless, anti-people and capitalist –driven stressing that the system favours the rich by making “the rich richer and the poor poorer”.
It stated: ““How decent are we as a people, if thousands of retirees are denied their benefits for years but we proudly present huge amounts of money to former presidents and ex-heads of state.
“Where is our humanity if a whopping N40 million is paid to an ex-president who arrogated all the honey and milk in the land to himself while in office and we still pay a paltry N18, 000 as minimum wage to workers who grease the machines of our economy.’’
Akintola stated that this socio-economic imbalance is the cause for crime, frustration in youths, diminishes patriotism and does not help the fight against corruption to move at an accelerated pace.
He stated: “How will an overworked, underpaid, impoverished and oppressed people who are living witnesses to the waste of our common wealth, willingly join the fight.
“The truth is that perhaps no present ex-president or former head of state lives in penury as at today.
“Our ex-presidents are not in dire need of cars from the Federal Government. Majority of them are in palatial mansions on hilltops in choice locations all over the country.’’
He tressed that the masses have already contributed a lot to take care of the “super-rich presdents and it is unfortunate that their blood is still been sucked again and again stressing that Islam encourages equitable distribution of wealth.
He further jettisoned the idea of buying new cars for leaders while ignoring the cries of pensioners and he advised President Muhammadu Buhari to remain focus in curtailing wasteful spending.
The Eagle online reports that Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, on January 11, revealed that the government paid N40 million to the nation’s former leaders, instead of buying vehicles as prescribed by law.
Mustapha stated that the decision was adopted so that the former leaders could purchase vehicles of their choice.
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