Despite the different campaigns against corruption by President
Muhammadu Buhari’s government, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has lamented
that Nigerians still celebrate corrupt politicians.
He therefore
emphasized the need to stop Nigerians from celebrating corrupt
politicians, and urged anti-corruption agencies in the country to step
up their engagement with the Nigerian public and find a way to ensure
that those who still justify and celebrate corruption when it involves
their kinsfolk stop from doing such.
He stated this on Tuesday
during a meeting with a delegation of the Presidential Advisory
Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) led by its Chairman, Prof. Itse
Sagay at the Presidential Villa, the outcome of which was made available
to newsmen by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity,
Laolu Akande.
He said, “How we communicate what is going on
regarding corruption is important. There are still those who think a
politician who steals, is some kind of Robin Hood, instead of being
vilified. Some people believe that if ‘my kinsman’ steals it is ok.”
Osinbajo
therefore stressed that it was important to completely delegitimise
corruption through the way it is communicated to the public.
The
Vice President while noting that it is important that corruption trials
once commenced should be concluded promptly, appreciated efforts so far
made by PACAC in the ongoing anti-corruption war in the country.
“I
commend the excellent work you have done so far from the beginning,” he
said, adding that the committee has done very well in removing
scepticism as to whether an anti-corruption initiative can work well in
the country.
Prof. Sagay in his comment at the meeting said PACAC
has engaged with all anti-corruption agencies in the country, including
the police and the judiciary.
“We are cooperating effectively well with them,” he said.
The
vice President’s position is coming on the heels of the release of a
former governor of Delta State, James Ibori, who recently regained his
freedom after serving time in a London prison after his conviction for
corruptly enriching himself and draining his state’s resources.
He
was celebrated by many people from his state, among them, a serving
senator, Peter Nwaoboshi who was caught on camera praising the ex
convict, and saying Ibori still influenced Nigeria’s politics even while
in prison.
