The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ‘Corrupt leaders

  • Corrupt leaders won’t escape jail, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Abuja said leaders who undermine the economy by denying workers their benefits, while stuffing personal accounts with public funds will not escape the current anti-corruption dragnet.

    He made the remark while receiving the All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation from Benue State, led by Sen. George Akume.

    He said the Federal Government’s bailout to states and Paris Club funds were basically to alleviate the sufferings of the people, describing misappropriations as unjust and unfair to workers.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “I honestly don’t know how people sleep when workers have not been paid.

    “The workers have to pay rent, buy food, send their children to school and they have healthcare to take care of.

    “I assure you that my main interest is all Nigerians in all parts of the country. Therefore, if anybody who tries to create any impression that I prefer any group across ethnicity or religion, let him dare me by being caught red handed stealing public funds.  I will deal with him,” he said.

    The President told the APC delegation that the Federal Executive Council had been monitoring the plight of workers across the country and utilisation of the bailout and Paris Club funds by some states.

    “I thank you for your courage to come and see me. This visit has resuscitated our morale,” he said.

    President Buhari said the Federal Government had made significant progress in diversifying the economy by investing in agriculture and encouraging more individuals and entrepreneurs to go into farming, pointing out that Nigeria would soon become self-sufficient in feeding its citizenry.

    “We are proud of what we have achieved with resources at our disposal,” he added

    He listed ongoing road, rail, sea port, airport and power projects as hallmarks of his administration’s commitment to improving lives.

    President Buhari said the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria will be further motivated to work together and support all interested Nigerians to take up farming on commercial scale.

    He noted that the killings across the country, including in Benue, Zamfara and Taraba, were carried out by “ungodly” people who had no religious or ethnic inclinations.

    “We know about herders. The ones we knew carried sticks, and sometimes cutlasses to cut foliage for their cattle. We now have people who carry AK 47s and pretend they are herdsmen.

    “We are working hard to secure our borders. We are going to see how the old cattle routes can be opened. We will control movement. Please beg our people to be patient,” he said.

    The President pointed out that security personnel were already uncovering the network of the killers and arresting them.

    In his remarks, the leader of the delegation said the narrative in the state about the Federal Government was fast changing for the positive as more people had discovered the good intentions of President Buhari to secure lives and property and alleviate poverty.

    “Your Excellency, Mr President, we know your commitment to Nigeria. We know how much you love the country and will be ready to die for the good cause,” Sen. Akume said.

    Akume, a former governor of Benue State, told the President that APC members had started sensitization and mobilisation of voters for the 2019 elections, noting that more had accepted the party and its manifesto in the state.

    He commended the President for the flag-off of the dualization of the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi road, urging more attention on the Makurdi-Otukpo road and the water projects in Gboko and Otukpo.

    “You have worked hard to stop herdsmen and farmers clashes in Benue. It is important to note that many people used religion and ethnicity to score cheap points. Religion was used in Benue for sinister purposes,” he added.

    On corruption, Sen. Akume said the President has made significant difference by tackling perpetrators.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Akume said: “This is a very special delegation of leaders and stakeholders of the APC Benue State to the president. We came to solidarise with him in total sense of involvement and commitment to his re-election. A man who has worked so tirelessly to turn around the fortunes of this country, deserves to be supported by all well-meaning Nigerians. This has nothing to do with politics.”

  • Corrupt leaders attract corrupt people, says cleric

    The President of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Worldwide, Pastor Abraham Akinosun, has stated that corrupt leaders will always have corrupt people around them.

    He urged Nigerians and other people across the world to be of integrity and good character, as well as embracing honesty and humility, in order to go far in life.

    Akinosun, who was accompanied by the church’s General Superintendent, Pastor S.O. Oladele; the General Evangelist, Pastor Hezekiah Oladeji; the General Secretary, Pastor E.E. Mapur; and the Financial Director, Pastor J.F. Omitide, among other eminent personalities, spoke yesterday at the CAC, Mile 3, Diobu, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, at the inauguration of Olutimehim Region of the church.

    The special service was also used for the induction of Pastor Emmanuel Ichelu as the pioneer Regional Superintendent of the newly-created Olutimehim Region, which consists of Christ Apostolic Churches in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

    President of CAC Worldwide, in the sermon through Pastor Oladele, titled: “The mighty men of David,” said: “The best anybody can be is to be a man or woman after God’s heart. We live in a title-crazy society. Today, people fight over titles, but how many of them are after God’s heart? Anointing is good, but to be a man or woman after God’s heart is greater, higher and nobler than anointing.

    “God can do without us, but we cannot do without God.”

  • Buhari to Nigerians: stop glorifying thieves

    Sultan declares today Eid-el-Fitr

    President Muhammadu Buhari has called on Nigerians to practise the virtues of Islam beyond the fasting season.

    Besides, they should not separate religion and morality because, in the President’s view, doing so will encourage corrupt leaders.

    In his message to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting, Buhari congratulated Muslims on the completion of “this spiritually significant month of sacrifice”. He urged them to reflect on the importance of Ramadan by becoming good ambassadors of Islam at all times.

    The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said:   ”Religion should be the moral compass for all believers in their public and personal lives.

    “If people allow the teachings of their religions to influence their conducts, problems, such as corruption, which diverts public funds to private pockets, would have been eliminated in the society.”

    Buhari regretted, however, that “selfishness and greed have overcome people’s conscience so much that they don’t have moral inhibitions in the pursuit of their greed”.

    The President said: “It is impossible to separate morality from religion, and removing this connection encourages corrupt leaders and other exploiters to commit atrocities against the society.”

    “I always wonder why any true believer, be they politicians, civil servants or businessmen, would seek to make profits from the misfortunes of others,” Buhari added.

    He urged ordinary Nigerians to stop glorifying thieves by treating them with disdain for bringing hardships to others.

    President Buhari enjoined religious leaders to always pray for peace and unity, and avoid making inflammatory utterances that endanger peace or promote conflicts.

    The President also urged fellow citizens to forgive one another and embrace peace.

    He lauded the families of recipients of national honours for showing good examples to Nigerians and urged country men and women to copy their good examples.

    In apparent reference to the hardship in the land, Buhari thanked Nigerians for their patience and assured them that their sacrifices will not be in vain, adding that reforming a country that was pushed into near decay on account of corruption comes with teething pains.

    “But these pains are temporary; the APC administration which I am privileged to lead, is beholden to the ordinary Nigerians and will leave no stone unturned to make their security, welfare and happiness our priority,” the President said.

    Last night, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, declared today as the Eid-el-Fitr, and the end of the Ramadan fast.

    The Sultan announced the sighting of the new moon of the month Shawwal in a broadcast in Sokoto.

    The Islamic month of Shawwal comes after the 29 or 30 days of the month of Ramadan when Muslims across the world observe a month-long fasting.

    The Sultan said the new moon was sighted in parts of Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Borno, Jigawa, Nassarawa, Plateau and Sokoto states, among others.

    He said:” In accordance with Islamic law, we have the honour and pleasure to announce that today, Thursday, the 29th day of Ramadan,1439 AH, which is equivalent to June 14, 2018 has marked the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the new month of Shawwal.

    “Reliable reports of moon sighting were received from Muslim leaders and religious organisations across the country, which were duly verified and authenticated by us, states and the National Moon Sighting Committee.

    “Consequent upon this, tomorrow, Friday, the 15th day of June, 2018 becomes the first day of Shawwal,1439 AH and is therefore declared the Sallah day for 2018 Eid-el-Fitr.”

    The Sultan urged the Muslim Ummah to sustain fervent prayers for the nation as well as for sustainable peace and unity in Nigeria and beyond.

    The Sultan also urged Nigerians to continue to live in peace irrespective of religious, ethnic and cultural differences.

     

  • Stop glorifying corrupt leaders – Don tells Nigerians

    A professor of crop Physiology at the University of Ibadan (UI), Olabode Lucas has said to completely win the war on corruption, Nigerians must stop glorifying corrupt leaders.

    He also tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that History and civics education are re-introduced and taught in Nigeria at primary and secondary schools.

    According to him, glorification of corrupt leaders will only embolden the cancer of corrupt urging Nigerians to collectively fight and kill the cancer of corruption for Nigeria to get to the Promised Land.

    Professor Lucas stated this during a Book Launch/presentation to round-off his 70th Birthday celebration entitled “Snapshots on Some Nigerian and International Events” held at the University of Ibadan Hotels and Conference centre.

    “Nigeria will continue to wallow in its current parlous state if the present rate of corruption and financial malfeasance continues. We should not allow ethnic and other considerations to colour our attitude towards those who are making all of us, except themselves, very poor in the midst of plenty. They should be ostracized and not encouraged. Corruption is a cancer and it is gradually destroying our dear country. We need concerted efforts by all and sundry to destroy this cancer.”

    The Introduction of civics education, he noted, will make the Nigerian child understand the past and have a sense of place and vision for a good Nigeria.

    Professor Lucas who noted that civics education and history were needed to produce a critical soul stated that civics education was central to producing responsible and good citizens.

    Professor Lucas noted that it was a pity that that these beautiful subjects of history and civics are no longer taught in our primary and secondary schools adding that only a re-introduction of the subjects would ensure that Nigerian children to know their history and their place in Nigeria and the world.

    The publisher of the book, Dr O. Okilagwe lamented that Nigeria has no functional book policy and no nationally articulated policy in support of scholarly publishing for the Nigerian university system.

    Okilagwe called for the formulation of functional book policy adding that universities in Nigeria must establish integrated and self-sustaining publishing system like those in the UK and USA.

  • ‘Corrupt leaders should be shot’

    A public commentator, Chief Areoye Oyebola, has said Nigeria needs a hurricane of change to become a great nation.

    Oyebola, a former editor of the defunct Daily Times, advocated a revolution to right the wrongs of the past and set Nigeria on the path of greatness.

    Delivering a lecture, titled: “A nation in pretence: Picture of celebration of a century of colonisation”, at the Mapo Hall in Ibadan, Oyo State, the veteran journalist explored Nigeria’s political history and suggested a pragmatic and courageous leadership to redeem the nation.

    He said the people who brought Nigeria to its present pathetic state should be lined up and shot.

    The programme, which was organised by the Oluyole Social Elite Club, was attended by academics, politicians, lawyers, business men and women and diplomats.

    Oyebola said only detribalised Nigerians with integrity should be allowed to occupy apex positions in the country.

    He said Nigerian rulers were worse than the colonialists and condemned the fanfare that attended the last centenary celebration by the Federal Government.

    Oyebola said: “With the absurdities, as well as the naivety, mediocrity and shallowness of thought of its rulers, Nigeria was recently brought to the most ridiculous century of its colonisation and the 1914 amalgamation.

    “It is shameful that the Federal Government rejected the arguments of many Nigerians and reputable media organisations that it was unwise, insensitive and wicked to spend billions of naira on celebrating colonial enslavement when majority of Nigerians live in abject poverty and are deprived of the basic needs of life by greedy, callous, notorious and corrupt rulers.”

    He queried the President’s decision to honour the late Lord Frederick Lugard and the late Gen. Sanni Abacha during the centenary celebration, saying: “If President Goodluck Jonathan knows how many Nigerians he hurt deeply by his indefensible decision to honour Abacha, he will be very unhappy. The decision to honour Abacha was a terrible one.

    “What is worth celebrating in a country where the only issue that unites the political elite is unbridled corruption, which has made the country one of the three most corrupt in the world? It is worse to note that Nigeria, which was one of the richest in terms of natural resources in the 70s, has become one of the 25 poorest.”

    Oyebola said one of the country’s greatest problems is poor leadership, adding that it is inappropriate to call those at the helms of affair in Nigeria leaders.