The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said yesterday that the federal government has no plans to silence the opposition as is being speculated in some quarters.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) had accused the government of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other state institutions to punish its spokesman, Olisa Metuh and other chieftains of the party for criticizing the government.
Fielding questions from State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Mohammed said government was not dictating to the anti-graft agencies on who to arrest or prosecute as claimed by the PDP.
“I think the first point to make is that this government is not micro-managing any of the anti-graft agencies. I know for a fact that they don’t contact the President or anybody before they do their job. I think the media also has to do more than they are doing right now, they should investigate these allegations and also make their independent judgment about it.
“Honestly, if the EFCC or ICPC says that they are able to trace certain amount of money to my account, I don’t want you to believe it, I want you to also ask for proof; do your investigation. I can assure you that this government, no functionary in government micromanages or directs the EFCC or ICPC on who to arrest and who not to arrest,” he said.
