Buhari shouldn’t fight corruption alone –Cleric

The Punch - Nigeria

The President, Voice of His Word Ministry, a Christian organisation based in Lagos, Pastor Bolaji Akinyemi, has advised the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to engage Nigerians in fighting corruption rather than use state money.organisation based in Lagos, Pastor Bolaji Akinyemi, has advised the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to engage Nigerians in fighting corruption rather than use state money.retd.), to engage Nigerians in fighting corruption rather than use state money.
He suggested that if it cost N4.3bn to prosecute former Delta State governor, James Ibori, it could take the country’s annual budget (about N4.4trn) to fight about 10 corrupt office holders in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.former Delta State governor, James Ibori, it could take the country’s annual budget (about N4.4trn) to fight about 10 corrupt office holders in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Akinyemi also said it was advisable for the incoming President not to be distracted in the name of fighting corruption due to his recent comments suggesting that corrupt office holders in the Jonathan administration could be probed.
He said, “Buhari should not concentrate too heavily on the issue of corruption because everybody sees him as a personality that would fight corruption and to fight corruption in the context of Nigerian society, so much resources are needed.much resources are needed.much resources are needed.much resources are needed.
“If you calculate how much it cost the nation to prosecute somebody like James Ibori, which cost a whopping sum of N4.3bn, you can imagine how much it will cost if you are prosecuting ten corrupt governors in the country. By the time you want to prosecute all of the past governors, all of the ministers or legislators, say from Obasanjo era till now, I don’t think our annual budget of N4.4trn could achieve anything.Obasanjo era till now, I don’t think our annual budget of N4.4trn could achieve anything.Obasanjo era
“So he should come up with how to stop corruption with a body of volunteers and professionals, lawyers and the likes whose professions are related to fighting corruption. Every Nigerian should offer whatever they can in terms of professional service for free so as to move the country from where it is to where we want it to be.”
He added that the country has always had good leaders but that Nigerians have always resisted change.leaders but that Nigerians have always resisted change.leaders but
He said, “It is natural for 200 million people to be demanding what their portion is of the Nigerian nation but it is also important that the 200 million people also think of what to give to the purse before they start demanding for what the purse will have to give to them, which is the normal way every healthy society is built.
“Expectations are very high, everybody is looking at Buhari as the messiah and I know this whole thing will not start and end with Buhari, but rather with Nigerians.
“There is a need for people to understand the way leaders have evolved in the past in this country. Nigerians have always expected that we would have a better leader after the change of leadership, but the Nigerian spirit had always resisted change. It’s not just about Buhari, it’s about all of us. We can’t leave it to Buhari.”