TheCable

A group known as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Forever Initiative says President Bola Tinubu should review the suspension of Halima Shehu as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA).

Shehu, who was recently screened and confirmed by the senate, is accused of financial malpractice.

She is reportedly being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Before her appointment as NSIPA CEO, Shehu had served as the national coordinator of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) programme.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Obande Obande, president of the group, said the president should tell Nigerians “if the allegations leveled against Shehu are indeed true or not”.

“It is also very undeserving that Mr President would approve a suspension of his appointee without investigation or setting up an investigative panel to unravel the allegations that must have led to the suspension,” Obande said.

“Information at our disposal revealed that the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation may have questions to answer as Ms Halima had worked with her for three years when she was the APC National Woman Leader and possibly influenced her appointment at NSIPA.

“What must have gone wrong? We want President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to quickly intervene and address Nigerians if truly there are missing funds and how the funds got missing.

“Investigation will reveal the real culprits who are stealing or trying to steal public funds.

“We wish to call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to look into the suspension of Ms Halima Shehu with a view to reverse it especially with the speedy appointment of Mr President’s kinsman Akindele Egbuwalo as her replacement which was recommended by Minister Betta Edu, a decision rather seen as hasty and a pointer to the fact that some information will be carpeted.”

The group’s president said as members of a political party, they only want to help the president do what is right.