Osita Chidoka has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s comment on bribe-seeking officials in government, describing it as “unfortunate”.
Tinubu had during a meeting in Qatar told a gathering of investors to report any Nigerian official asking for a bribe, saying the country is removing all roadblocks to investments.
But Chidoka who is a former Minister of Aviation said the statement was uncalled for as it demarkets Nigeria in the eyes of investors.
“It was an unfortunate statement. I was shocked and embarrassed that he was continuing Buhari’s type of de-marketing of Nigeria.
“There are many Nigerians who will not ask for a bribe or disturb people. The people who will probably ask you for a bribe are in the minority. The job of the President is to sell Nigeria, to be the chief spokesperson and chief salesperson of Nigeria,” he said on Sunday .
“I think this is the lacuna that comes when there is a poor briefing from the agencies of government. I don’t really blame the President. I blame the inability of people like the Minister of Information and Foreign Affairs for the theme of the government.
“The government has to have a theme like we are pro-investment, we want to attract foreign exchange. Our mission is to deodorise Nigeria, to tell a good story about Nigeria, to tell Africa’s rising narrative, and to say that this change of government is a new mandate that tells you how Nigeria has been able to sustain democracy for 24 going to 25 years now.
“So the story about Nigeria is not a story of bribery and corruption. And we don’t want a President who people are calling from Qatar to report a bribe. They should report them to the police, EFCC, ICPC, or any other office of government that deals with that.”
