A non–governmental organisation, the Movement For Social Justice and Equity (MSJE), has expressed ?concern over an alleged secret movement by some political forces in the country to persecute the former governor of Gombe State, Senator Muhammadu Danjuma Goje, for their selfish political agenda.?
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The former governor was mentioned by media reports recently as one of the ex – governors being monitored for arrest and possible prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged financial crimes while in office.
The media reports also quoted a senior EFCC operative as saying recently that the anti–graft agency had dispatched its security operatives to the ex–governor’s home town to keep watch on over him and monitor his movement.
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?But, reacting to the EFCC’s move yesterday, the group said Senator Goje did not deserve the ongoing “persecution in view of his sound social – political and economic achievements” while in office for eight years.
In a statement signed by the Executive Director of the MSJE, Dr Shehu Umar, the group said, “Senator Danjuma Goje should be a shining example to upcoming politicians to emulate; he served his state and this nation credibly very well for good eight years as governor of Gombe State; he improved the lives of his people in all aspects of life.
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“The laudable projects, mostly capital projects in Gombe State, which he put in place before leaving, with a little financial allocation he received from the federal government for eight years were good testimonies of his good works
“But for selfish political reasons, some persons are not happy with him and they want to destroy and pull him down. This is not fair; this is not how to reward a man who had served his state and nation very well.”
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Dr. Umar added that the several awards Senator Goje received from credible institutions, including independent media houses while in office and recently – as a result of his good works would have been enough to convince those behind the ongoing move that they were “persecuting an innocent man”, who is still willing to serve his fatherland.
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The group also advised the EFCC not to allow itself to be used as a ready political tool by some dangerous politicians, who never mean well for this nation with their evil agenda.
The group added, “the EFCC and other anti – corruption agencies were set up by the federal government to fight corruption not as institutions of political persecution. They should go after real corrupt people.”?
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