It may sound like a joke, but the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has asked political parties to make drug tests a part of their screening process for politicians who want to run for office in 2023.
The agency’s chairman, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, confirmed on Wednesday that a letter had been sent to the All Progressive Congress (APC) to this effect and one will be sent to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as well as other political parties. This was confirmed during the 2022 First Quarter Best Performing Commands Awards ceremony at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa
Marwa said,
“For politicians, we have long advocated and I take the opportunity again to repeat the advocacy that when they run for public office, it demands a lot of responsibility from the person and we need to be certain if he’s a person that is already a drug addict/user who will spend all the money he’s given for public service to consume cocaine and his head will not be in a stable condition to handle the affairs he has been entrusted with,”
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“For this reason, we have advocated and will continue to advocate that drug test be conducted for politicians; some state governments like Kano State are already doing this.
“Not just politicians, but government appointees, and I’ve just sent a letter this morning to the National Chairman of APC, who will be the first of the national working committee I wish to pay an advocacy visit on this issue. I recommended that drug tests be incorporated in the screening process for all those interested in running for public office; we’ll do the same to the PDP and other important parties.”
It’ll be interesting to see what this would uncover if and when it becomes a reality. I guess we’ll find out.
