The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah has urged President Bola Tinubu to lead the war against corruption in Nigeria.
Kukah said this on Monday, July 10, 2023, while delivering a lecture titled, “The future of constitutional democracy in Nigeria: Imperative of a new constitutional order,” at the 60th anniversary of legal icon, Afe Babalola’s call to Bar.
He stated that corruption thrived in the last administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari saying that Nigeria now shares its sovereignty with bandits and other terrorists.
The Clergy noted that even though corruption did not start under the last administration, it amplified the scourge in various ways.
“We have seen the worst phase of corruption in Nigeria. Femi Falana, my friend here, will speak about that because he has published a series of articles talking about what happened under the Buhari administration.
“They were not the ones who caused corruption, but I think in the last administration, we saw the ugliest phase of corruption whether in moral terms, financial terms and other terms,” Kukah said.
He added that nobody is excited now about being a Nigerian as the country is literally being held hostage by people who threaten the very existence of the country and the nation’s democracy.
Kukah noted that a lot of Nigerians have lost faith in the judiciary, but added that he considers the judiciary a victim the same way every other institution in Nigeria is suffering a crisis, saying the last administration left the country in a mess.
The bishop said it is time to rebuild the country, adding that no matter what happens at the Supreme Court concerning the election, he is convinced that Nigerians have put the ugly past behind them.
On his part, Falana also decried the level of corruption in the country, urging the president to take action.
He said, “The level of corruption in Nigeria has assumed a very dangerous dimension. We have a situation whereby highly placed public officers steal money meant for building hospitals, people are dying on our roads, money for ecology meant to fight erosion are also being stolen.
“President Bola Tinubu must show leadership and lead an anti-corruption crusade. Wrong signal must not be sent to the people and the international community.”
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