A few months to the end of his eight years in office, President Muhammadu Buhari regime says no country can and has ever defeated corruption, contrary to his campaign promise to “kill corruption before it kills Nigerians.”
In 2015, Mr Buhari rode to power on three major promises: “ending corruption, qtackling insecurity and pursuing economic prosperity for Nigerians.
“‘If we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria,” Mr Buhari reiterated during his campaigns, vowing to champion a vigorous anti-corruption war.
However, close to the end of Mr Buhari regime, Femi Adesina, his spokesperson, is shifting the goal post on his principal’s campaign promise, saying it is impossible to “defeat” corruption.
Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, had in his Easter homily raised questions on Mr Buhari’s promise to “defeat corruption,” amongst other promises made.
Reacting to Mr Kukah’s criticism in an interview with Channels TV on Monday, Mr Adesina said the cleric’s choice of word was disappointing as “no country ever defeats corruption.”
“Defeating corruption, which country ever defeats corruption? Which country ever defeats corruption? Even China that executes for corruption. The fact that they keep executing shows that both country never defeats corruption. You can curb it. But he used the word defeating corruption, I think Father Kukah is rather disappointing in those choice of words,” Mr Adesina said.
A report by Transparency International on the 2021 Corruption Perception Index showed that corruption is on the increase under Mr Buhari watch. Nigeria scored 24 out of 100 points, ranking 154 out of 180 in the Corruption Perceptions Index 2021.
In 2021, the senior pastor of Citadel Global Community Church, Tunde Bakare, had said corruption had become more deadly under the watch of Mr Buhari.
“If because of insecurity and corruption, we voted Jonathan out and now insecurity is worse, corruption is much more deadly now, what do you think should happen?,” Mr Bakare, an ally of Mr Buhari, asked in his sermon.
Though Mr Buhari claims to be leading an anti-corruption war, his regime has been rocked by several corruption scandals, ranging from certificate forgery among his aides to theft and diversion of public funds.
In 2017, secretary to the government of the federation, Babachir David Lawal, was fingered in the diversion of N544 million meant to cater to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the terrorism-ravaged North East. Mr Lawal was suspended and he is facing trial by the EFCC.
In April 2017, $ 43 million slush fund belonging to the NIA was found in a residential apartment at Okoyi, Lagos by EFCC officials. The then NIA boss, Ayo Oke was sacked, with President Buhari vowing that those involved in the IkoyiGate scandal will not go unpunished.
Former Nigerian Finance minister Kemi Adeosun was in July 2018 exposed by Premium Times to have skipped NYSC and forged a certificate to secure her appointment in Mr Buhari’s government.
Abdulrasheed Bawa, head of Lagos EFCC office, was exposed by Peoples Gazette to have diverted recovered assets in September 2020. Less than 5months after Mr Bawa was exposed, Mr Buhari appointed him as EFCC chair.
In November 2020, The Gazette exposed how SSS Director General, Salisu Bichi, recruited 535 northerners and 93 Southerners and how Mr Buhari regime appointed Usman Baba Alkali as Inspector General of Police, scheming out Moses Jitoboh, the only qualified candidate for the position in violation of the law.
Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, is currently under trial for multi-billon naira fraud.
