President Muhammadu Buhari has sworn that his government has not been witch-hunting particular group of people in the war that is being waged against corruption since he assumed office in 2015.
He maintained that what his government has been trying to do is to ensure the protection of public trust in which the anti-corruption war is at the centre.
“We never intended, and we are not engaged in witch-hunts, but we are determined within the laws to call people to account.”
The President who spoke today, Tuesday, at the commissioning of the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, said that war on corruption is not an easy one to fight.
This is because, he said, it affects so many different branches of our lives, so much that some people do not even consider breaking trust is anymore a crime, addin: “it has become the norm. That is why we must fight this attitude and encourage Nigerians to CHANGE their attitudes and perspectives.”
Buhari said that throughout his journey in national service and since 2015, he had made a very conscious decision to pursue a vigorous fight against corruption in public life.
“Since 2015, we have made significant progress in the fight against corruption. Everyone now knows that corrupt officials will be held to account, no matter how long it takes.
“We have recovered and are still recovering trillions of naira that were stolen in the past few years by people without conscience.
“We are pursuing recoveries everywhere and are making sure that anyone who has been found culpable is made to answer for his or her crime under the law.”
President Buhari appealed to the judiciary, which he described as a critical stakeholder and partner in the war against corruption, to continue to collaborate with the Executive to bring corrupt people to book.
He also called on the Legislature which, which he said provides the legal framework for the anti-corruption war to add more verve to the determination of government to rid the country of the brazen corruption witnessed in recent years, through reviewing archaic provisions in the laws and proactive passage of new legislation.”
He described the EFCC headquarters as not only a structure of concrete and metal, but also an edifice symbolizing the resolve of Nigerians to fight corruption. Saying: “we must CHANGE our ways of handling public trust.
“Corruption not only kills governments but destroys societies. It is the major reason why we are struggling with basic developmental issues that other comparable nations have long overcome.”
President Buhari appealed to Nigerians to support regulatory agencies like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, because fighting corruption is everyone’s concern.
“I call on the Judiciary and the National Assembly to join hands in this national effort.”
He is happy that many nations have re signified interest to help Nigeria to tighten their laws and enter into agreements with Nigeria to repatriate not only stolen funds but to make the culprits face due process of law.
“We are committed to working with our foreign friends to stop the inflow of stolen funds from Nigeria into their countries and recovering what is there already. These assets, when repatriated will be put to building our infrastructure.”
