Thursday, 28th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Aso Villa ex-chaplain, Lokoja bishop back anti-corruption war

By Nkechi Onyedika-Ugoeze (Abuja) and John Akubo (Lokoja)
24 August 2015   |   4:10 am
FORMER chaplain of Aso Rock Villa and General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission, Dr. Williams Okoye, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to wage a total war against corruption and also ensure that the process is not selective

Aso-rock-VillaFORMER chaplain of Aso Rock Villa and General Overseer, All Christians Fellowship Mission, Dr. Williams Okoye, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to wage a total war against corruption and also ensure that the process is not selective.

Commending the efforts of the present administration in the anti-corruption fight so far, he said Nigeria was now set to join the league of countries fighting graft, which has been a clog in the wheel of national development.

Similarly, the Catholic Bishop of Lokoja Diocese, Martins Dada Olorunmolu, insisted that it should be a collective action to save the country from sinking.

He told The Guardian after yesterday’s mass at the Catholic Cathedral in Lokoja that every corrupt leader should be made to face the full wrath of the law, no matter his or her status.

Speaking at the ministry’s 40th anniversary yesterday in Abuja, the cleric, however, noted that corruption did not start with the last administration, adding that one of the reasons for military intervention in governance was the fervent zeal to fight corruption.

Unfortunately, he said, succeeding military administrations had always turned out more corrupt than the regime they ousted. According to him, “corruption became like a state policy and spread not only in government circles but like a leach, it also affected every sector of our national life. “This has been the dilemma of Nigeria since 1966.

If we were to probe former administrations the way we are going about it now, not one will come out clean. It is my considered opinion that the fight against corruption should be total, not selective.

A situation where protagonists of the fight against corruption are arrogantly breathing hatred and contempt against perceived looters of our commonwealth is to say the least vindictive and self-seeking.”

He stated that Nigerians and the international community are watching to see whether we are about to set in motion a government of witch-hunt of enemies or to build a nation of justice and fair play that would further cement the bonds of unity.

Bishop Olorunmolu said he does not know the criteria for prosecution but that the President should do the right thing so that every Nigerian would be grateful to God for his tenure.

I cannot really comment or make judgment, but our prayer is that President (Muhammadu) Buhari would do things in a way to help us achieve positive change, because there can be change which may be negative,” he said. He urged unity in against corruption, adding: “I don’t have the details and I am not a politician.

Some people are saying those who are in PDP are being victimised. I am not a PDP member and don’t even know the individuals concerned, but the truth is that if we are to fight corruption, whoever is responsible should not be allowed to go free, no matter whether they are members of the President’s own party.”

He further advised Buhari to put himself as a good example by ensuring that no corruption is found in or around him.

0 Comments