A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alwan Hassan, has accused most ministers who served under former President Muhammadu Buhari of abusing their offices, claiming that many of them ought to be prosecuted for their actions while in government.
Hassan made the allegation on Tuesday during an appearance on Politics Today, a political programme aired on Channels Television, as public attention continues to focus on officials who served in the Buhari administration from 2015 to 2023.
He alleged that nearly all ministers under Buhari operated with little or no supervision from the presidency, creating an environment where alleged corruption thrived.
“In my opinion, about 95 per cent of the ministers who served under Buhari should be in jail by now,” Hassan said. “There has never been a period when ministers were given so much freedom without proper oversight.”
According to him, the former president was not completely unaware of what was happening in his government, recalling comments reportedly made by Buhari advising his appointees to keep their records in order for future scrutiny.
“He once warned them to keep their documents because a day would come when they would be asked to explain themselves. Perhaps he already saw the signs,” Hassan added.
While maintaining that wrongdoing was widespread, the APC chieftain acknowledged that a small number of ministers distinguished themselves through integrity.
“There were a few good people, but they were very few — maybe about five per cent,” he said.
Hassan further claimed that government funds were released with minimal restrictions during Buhari’s tenure, allowing ministers to operate independently.
“Budgets were fully released and ministers had free rein. Everyone became his own power centre. If you could get close to Buhari and present your case, you were considered part of the inner circle,” he said, describing the period as largely unchecked.
He, however, contrasted the situation with the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, which he said is more actively involved in governance, particularly in financial matters.
“This government is hands-on. The president personally oversees financial decisions. Contractors are still complaining about unpaid bills because he is cautious and focused on priorities,” Hassan said. “It is no longer business as usual.”
