Popular Nigerian columnist, Mr. Femi Aribisala, has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s much-touted anti-corruption crusade as an instrument for checkmating and decimating the opposition. He declared that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is a safe harbour for corrupt politicians seeking protection from persecution by the APC government.

In a series of tweets yesterday, Aribisala said that Buhari’s anti-corruption campaign is all sound and fury signifying nothing. He noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has gone after former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, such as Sule Lamido and Godswill Akpabio, but has ignored former APC governors, such as Chibuike Amaechi and Babatunde Fashola.

Aribisala tweeted: “Buhari should know that he cannot fight corruption successfully while he is surrounded and sponsored by corrupt APC politicians.”

“We are waiting to see if Buhari’s EFCC will probe Wale Tinubu’s hidden investments, as revealed by the Panama Papers.”

“Apparently, if you are in the PDP, you are deemed corrupt by Buhari’s APC. But once you cross over to the APC, you become squeaky clean.”

According to Aribisala, “Buhari makes a song and dance about fighting corruption, yet his APC party is steeped in corruption. APC does not even pretend to be anti-corruption party. Both the corrupt and the clean are welcome with open arms into the party.”

He said further that “EFCC had filed corruption against Timipre Sylva for defrauding Bayelsa State, yet he became the governorship candidate of the APC in 2016. Abubakar Audu was under EFCC prosecution for misappropriating state funds. Nevertheless, he was nominated APC governor candidate for Kogi.”

Commenting on Senate President Bukola Saraki’s ongoing trial on falsification of assets, he wrote: “According to Buhari’s CCT, Bukola Saraki must be prosecuted for committing the same crime Bola Tinubu was absolved of.”

•Photo shows Femi Aribisala.