President Bola Tinubu’s replacement of Betta Edu as Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs raises critical transparency and accountability questions.
Development Diaries reports that the president appointed Nentawe Yilwatda as Edu’s replacement in a major ministerial cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, nothing has been said of the suspension and the investigation of Edu. Why the silence? Was she sacked? Did she resign? Where is the transparency or openness in governance?
In January, President Tinubu suspended Edu following the transfer of N585.2 million into a private bank account linked to a civil servant, prompting a probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The president’s swift action at the time signaled a strong stance against corruption, but the prolonged silence on the investigation’s outcome has made a mess of everything.
Despite Edu’s defence that the transfer of funds was for grants to vulnerable Nigerians, the lack of any concrete findings from the EFCC or statements from the presidency since the investigation erodes public trust in the administration.
Development Diaries severally reported on this lingering silence, noting the EFCC’s refusal to absolve any suspects and the presidency’s failure to update Nigerians.
The silence gives room for speculation and casts doubt on the transparency of the government’s anti-corruption efforts, especially when corruption investigations are left unresolved.
In a country where trust in public institutions is already fragile, the failure to communicate results from high-profile investigations like this sends the wrong message to citizens.
It suggests that accountability may be selective, especially when individuals in power are involved, and raises concerns about the sincerity of President Tinubu’s administration in combating corruption.
A government that fails to be transparent risks creating a culture of impunity, where public officials are not held accountable for their actions.
This can discourage citizens from engaging in democratic processes, reduce cooperation with government initiatives, and fuel political apathy. Furthermore, it can embolden other public officials to engage in corrupt practices if they believe they are likely to face the law.
Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu to address these concerns openly. The public deserves to know whether Edu has been cleared or if any wrongdoing has been established, otherwise, the public will continue to question the integrity of the entire administration.
Photo source: Bola Tinubu
