The All Progressive Congress, APC, has said that the incoming Buhari administration would not witch hunt anyone in its bid to ensure probity and accountability in governance.
The party was reacting to statements made by the outgoing president, Jonathan Goodluck, on the possibility of members of his administration suffering persecution at the hands of the Buhari government after the May 29 handover date.
The APC through a statement issued by its spokesman, Lai Mohammed, said even though the incoming government would not persecute anyone, those that carried out acts of corruption must be ready to clear their conscience before God and man.
The APC said the president – elect was a man of integrity who has made it clear that he would not be bogged down by endless probes.
“However, the hands of the incoming government will not be tied by those who have chosen to play the victim and exhibit a persecution mentality. Whoever has any reason to be afraid must lay bare such reason before Nigerians,” the statement said.
It added that under the new climate of change that Nigerians voted for, only the guilty needed to be afraid on account of their crimes against Nigerians.
“The last time we checked, this does not fit the definition of persecution,’’ APC said.
The party said that it was saddening that although the outgoing president and the president – elect had met several times in the last few weeks, Jonathan had chosen a public forum to express his fears rather than accost Buhari in private.
”Even if the two have not met, the President could have reached out to the President-elect over any fears that he may be nursing, instead of engaging in an action that seems like he was being preemptive and seeking to curry public sympathy,” APC noted.
It said the priority of the incoming administration was to provide the needed credible leadership Nigerians are yearning for while putting the nation on the part of recovery.
It would be recalled that Jonathan on Sunday at a thanksgiving service which held at Cathedral Church of the Advent, Life Camp, Gwarinpa, Abuja, expressed fears that officials of his government may suffer possible persecution at the hands of the incoming government, due to some of the “hard decisions” he took while in leadership.