Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is very angry with Nigerian governors and others in political leadership positions in Nigeria… “Corruption is a major impediment to our progress as it deprives us of our tomorrow even before the day breaks. It is stealing from us, denying us what we are entitled to and stealing from our children by leaving for them a hopeless future.”
“Yet, the cancerous virus of corruption is inherent in most of us. It is the temptation to make free money, or use influence to gain undue favour or influence. Leadership is everything when it comes to tackling corruption in public life. It is the leader, whether political or administrative, that can set the tune for others to follow. A leader with soiled hands has no moral basis to question his subordinates or followers. And when the leader is involved in dirty deals it becomes a free for all.”
“For leaders to set this example, there should be practical steps that will change the ways of doing things for the better. Ostentatious lifestyle by leaders evinces a feeling of extravagance and corruption. There is no reason, for example, why we should continue to see the long motorcades for both elected and appointed leaders. Leaders who receive huge sums of money in security votes and live in cosy government houses do not exude the needed seriousness to match words with action when it comes to fight against corruption.”
“We should weed out corruption in our electoral process. As a discretionary intervention, subsidy on whatever service or product is very much prone to corruption by both the beneficiaries and those managing it, as we have seen with the petroleum subsidy in this country. There should also be the will to apply the sanctions. As I have pointed out several times, lack of will by the political leadership to prosecute the war against corruption takes us to nowhere.”
“The political leadership should be determined and it should be seen to be serious about it. Security votes should be completely phased out. Honesty has to be lifted to the position of a prized and rewarding national value. Criminals should not be celebrated as heroes on account of their wealth.”