As some are voluntarily returning illicit funds, Buhari promises to name looters soon

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that his adminis­tration would sustain the on-going war against corruption in the country until Nigerians collec­tively repudiate corruption and fight it to a standstill.

Making this declaration yesterday while delivering his address at the an­nual Osigwe Anyiam-Osigwe Founda­tion lecture which took place at the the International Conference Centre, Abuja, President Buhari lamented that corrup­tion has almost brought the nation to her knees adding that the situation has reached such a point where all Nigerians must col­lectively say enough is enough.

According to the President who spoke on the paper titled; Incorruptibility; A Spir­itual Premise For Material Well Being, dealing with corruption requires the col­lective will of every Nigerian. He urged Nigerians to rise as one and stand for probity in both public and private lives.

While saying that he will provide a leadership that leads by example,Buhari however noted that Nigerians also have their own complementary roles to play in the quest for the new order.

‘’Without our collective will to resist corrupt acts as a people,it will be difficult to win the war. Nigeria has been brought almost to her knees by decades of corrup­tion and mismanagement of the public treasury.We must come to a point when we must all collectively say Enough is enough. If this country will realise her potentials, and take her rightful place in the comity of nation,we must collective­ly fight corruption to a standstill.If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria’’, he declared.

While saying that the nation can be known for other better things, Buhari la­mented that year after year that Nigeria is cast in the role of a super star on cor­ruption.

‘’In 2011 ,out of 183 countries Nige­ria was 143 on the corruption ladder. In 2012, we were 139th out of 176.In 2013, we were ranked 144 out of 177,and in 2014,we stood at 136th out of 174.This is hardly a record to inspire anyone. In fact,it is sad , depressing and distressing’’.

Affirming his earlier declaration that looted funds are being voluntarily re­turned by some people, President Buhari however assured that the names of such looters will be revealed to members of the public in due course. He however insisted that it will be too early to make such disclosures.

‘’As I stated recently, a good number of people who abused their positions are voluntarily returning the illicit funds. I have heard some people saying that we should disclose the names of the people ,and the amount returned. Yes,in due course , the Central Bank Of Nigeria will make information available to the pub­lic on the surrendered funds,but I must remark that it is yet early days, and any disclosure now may jeopardise the pos­sibility of bigger recoveries. But we owe Nigerians adequate information, and it shall come in due course.It is part of the collective effort to change our land from the bastion of corruption it currently is, to a place of probity and transparency,he said’’.

While saying that the anti-corrup­tion war is not strictly about his own person,President Buhari said the battle is about building a country where coming generations can live in peace and prosper­ity.Describing corruption as evil , he said;

‘’When you see dilapidated infra­structure round the country,it is often the consequence of corruption.Poor healthcare,collapsed education,lack of public utilities,decayed social services,are all products of corruption as those entrust­ed with public resources put them in their private pockets.

That must stop if we want a new Nige­ria .And that was why I said that people need not fear me,but they must fear the consequences of their action. Corrupt Acts will always be punished,and there will be no friend,no foe. We will strive to do what is fair and just at all times,but people who refuse to embrace probity should have every cause to fear.

Decrying abuse of trust by political leaders in the country, President Buhari la­mented that some leaders instead of using the nation’s God given resources to better the lot of the citizens were diverting such to private use (The Sun)