Nigerians should be ready for more shocking corruption reports - Lai Mohammed
Mohammed raised the alarm that treasury looters had resorted to fighting back, using various means.
Speaking to chiefs of newspapers on Tuesday, he said
”When I met with the news and political editors in Lagos on Sunday, I said, among other things, that the government is aware that in fighting corruption, corruption will also fight back.
“I also said that those who stole us dry are powerful. They have newspapers, radio and television stations as well as online platforms, and an army of supporters to continuously deride the government’s war against corruption.
”Well, I can tell you today that corruption is already fighting back, and it is fighting hard and dirty.
When we make subsequent revelations, you will be more shocked than you are now.”
Sponsored articles have started appearing in the newspapers and in the social media while ‘Talking Heads’ have started making the rounds in the electronic media, all deriding the fight against corruption as well as this Administration.
Not stopping there, they have
been creating distractions by sponsoring articles in both local and
international media to deride the Administration’s policies generally,
tag the President a budding dictator and even write off his 2016
budget.
We know that the sole purpose of these attacks is to distract attention from the war on corruption.
“It is saddening that some otherwise credible voices have unwittingly allowed themselves to be railroaded into the bandwagon of pro-corruption orchestra. They engage in sophistry to try to rally Nigerians against the anti-corruption battle.
“Also, one of those who benefited from the Dasukigate even had the temerity to deride the anti-corruption war as ‘selective’, when in saner climes he should have been so ashamed of himself that he would have apologised to the nation and hunkered down…for good.
These sponsored attacks are not
about to stop. In fact, they will become more intense and more
coordinated in the days ahead. But the good news is that we are winning
the war. Nigerians are now talking more about corruption. Nigerians are
now counting the cost of corruption to their lives.
“We call on Nigerians not to be taken in by the antics of the sponsored denunciation of the anti-graft war.
The treasury looters, who have so
much resources in their kitty, and their cohorts will throw everything
but the kitchen sink at this Administration.
But we have no doubt that
Nigerians are discerning enough to know the truth which, in the words of
President Muhammadu Buhari, is that unless Nigeria kills corruption,
corruption will kill Nigeria.
“This Administration will neither be distracted nor intimidated by anyone into abandoning or weakening the fight against corruption, which is a war of survival for our nation.
No amount of media or other
attacks will stop the fight. The pseudo-analysts and hack writers will
labour in vain in heir quest to stop the train of this anti-corruption
fight.”
The minister said the information on corruption was meant to sensitise the nation on the evil of corruption.
“Let me restate, for emphasis, that when we give instances of mind-boggling acts of corruption, our intention is not to vilify anyone but to sensitise Nigerians as to how harmful corruption is to the country and the people.
The minister said the information on corruption was meant to sensitise the nation on the evil of corruption.
“Let me restate, for emphasis, that when we give instances of mind-boggling acts of corruption, our intention is not to vilify anyone but to sensitise Nigerians as to how harmful corruption is to the country and the people.
The truth is that what we have
revealed so far is nothing but the tip of the iceberg. Nigerians should
stay tuned for more shocking revelations in the days ahead.”
For those doubting the allegations, the minister said they should investigate the information he provided to know if it was true or not.
He added:
“Do you know that What has so far been revealed as per taking in theDasukigate is about N54.8billion Whereas, in the entire 2015 all the zonal intervention act cost N52 billion. This is the cost of corruption for you.
When the money meant to construct
roads is looted, the end result is that the roads are not built and the
people suffer and even die in avoidable road accidents.
When the money meant to provide
electricity is looted, we all are perpetually sentenced to darkness.
When the money meant for healthcare is pocketed by a few, we are unable
to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
These are the costs of
corruption. Let us not just talk about corruption in the abstract, let
us be counting its cost to our lives in order to drive home the point
that corruption must be tackled decisively for Nigerians to feel the
impact of governance.”
The government has been criticized for disobeying court orders or trampling on the rights of accused people. Mohammed disagreed.
He said: “What are we even talking about? Is the human right of the 55 persons more important than human rights of 170 Nigerians? But again, let me make it clear that we do not disobey court orders”.
When prodded to provide information on the 55 persons, he said the easiest way is to go to the court or the EFCC to find out who they are as they all have one pending case or the other in the court bordering on corruption.
The government has been criticized for disobeying court orders or trampling on the rights of accused people. Mohammed disagreed.
He said: “What are we even talking about? Is the human right of the 55 persons more important than human rights of 170 Nigerians? But again, let me make it clear that we do not disobey court orders”.
When prodded to provide information on the 55 persons, he said the easiest way is to go to the court or the EFCC to find out who they are as they all have one pending case or the other in the court bordering on corruption.
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