No Intimidation or Blackmail can Stop Our Anti-Corruption Fight- FG
Category: Nigeria National News
Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has raise alarm that treasury looters had resorted to fighting back, using using various means. But he assured Nigerians that the Federal government will not give in to distractions.
Mohammed said there are more mind boggling revelations in the 2014 and
2015 corruption report, which is yet to be released.
The government, he said, has achieved what it set out to achieve, which is to sensitise Nigerians to the evil of corruption.
He said: “Well, I can tell you today that corruption is already
fighting back, and it is fighting hard and dirty. Sponsored articles
have started appearing in the newspapers and in the social media while
‘Talking Heads’ have started making the rounds in the electronic media,
all deriding the fight against corruption as well as this
Administration. Not stopping there, they have been creating distractions
by sponsoring articles in both local and international media to deride
the Administration’s policies generally, tag the President a budding
dictator and even write off his 2016 budget. We know that the sole
purpose of these attacks is to distract attention from the war on
corruption.
“It is saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly
allowed themselves to be railroaded into the bandwagon of
pro-corruption orchestra. They engage in sophistry to try to rally
Nigerians against the anti-corruption battle. One hack writer even said
the disclosure that 55 Nigerians allegedly stole N1.34 trillion between
2006 and 2013 did not trigger any anger among Nigerians! A disclosure
that made the front page in over a dozen Nigerian newspapers, played
widely in the international media and attracted the attention of the
world’s most powerful country and global financial institutions cannot
be dismissed with a wave of the hand.
“Also, one of those who benefited from the Dasukigate even
had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as ‘selective’, when
in saner climes he should have been so ashamed of himself that he would
have apologised to the nation and hunkered down…for good. These
sponsored attacks are not about to stop. In fact, they will become more
intense and more coordinated in the days ahead. But the good news is
that we are winning the war. Nigerians are now talking more about
corruption. Nigerians are now counting the cost of corruption to their
lives.
“We call on Nigerians not to be taken in by the antics of the
sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war. The treasury looters, who
have so much resources in their kitty, and their cohorts will throw
everything but the kitchen sink at this Administration, But we have no
doubt that Nigerians are discerning enough to know the truth which, in
the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills
corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.
“This Administration will neither be distracted nor intimidated by
anyone into abandoning or weakening the fight against corruption, which
is a war of survival for our nation. No amount of media or other attacks
will stop the fight. The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will labour
in vain in heir quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption fight.”
The minister said the information on corruption was meant to sensitise the nation on the evil of corruption.
“Let me restate, for emphasis, that when we give instances of
mind-boggling acts of corruption, our intention is not to vilify anyone
but to sensitise Nigerians as to how harmful corruption is to the
country and the people. The truth is that what we have revealed so far
is nothing but the tip of the iceberg. Nigerians should stay tuned for
more shocking revelations in the days ahead.”
For those doubting the allegations, the minister said they should
investigate the information he provided to know if it was true or not.
“Let’s talk more about the cost of corruption. Have you noticed that
whereas Nigeria’s national budget has increased from just over N900
billion in 1999 to over N6 trillion in 2016, poverty has also increased
almost by the same proportion? The reason is not far fetched:
Appropriated funds have mostly ended up in the pockets of a few
looters.”
He added: “Do you know that What has so far been revealed as per taking in the Dasukigate
is about N54.8billion Whereas, in the entire 2015 all the zonal
intervention act cost N52 billion. This is the cost of corruption for
you.
When the money meant to construct roads is looted, the end result is
that the roads are not built and the people suffer and even die in
avoidable road accidents. When the money meant to provide electricity is
looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness. When the money
meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable to reduce
maternal and infant mortality. These are the costs of corruption. Let us
not just talk about corruption in the abstract, let us be counting its
cost to our lives in order to drive home the point that corruption must
be tackled decisively for Nigerians to feel the impact of governance.”
Mohammed spoke of two courts of corruption – the court of public
opinion and the court of law. “The court of public opinion is also as
important as the court of law,” he said.
On why the details he gave on alleged treasury looters did not
include 1999-2005, he explained that the compilation covered only
periods when the anti-corruption law became fully operational and that
was around 2006.
The minister said by the time the details of 2014 and 2015 are released, the country will be shocked.
His words: “When we make subsequent revelations, you will be more shocked than you are now.”
The government has been criticized for disobeying court orders or trampling on the rights of accused people. Mohammed disagreed.
He said: “What are we even talking about? Is the human right of the
55 persons more important than human rights of 170 Nigerians? But again,
let me make it clear that we do not disobey court orders”.
When prodded to provide information on the 55 persons, he said the
easiest way is to go to the court or the EFCC to find out who they are
as they all have one pending case or the other in the court bordering on
corruption.
He also decried the situation where it takes about seven or more years to prosecute the “so-called powerful” people.
On the role of the judiciary in the fight against corruption, the
minister reiterated his earlier appeal that both the Bar and Bench
should see the fight as a national campaign.
He said “ and I can assure you that we have made a presentation And
the judiciary is willing and ready to cooperate with us. So we know that
judiciary is very important, and we are reaching out to them, we are
appealing to them to also know that there are some structural reforms
that need to take place and we are working on them.
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