Former Head of State General Muhammad Buhari
has said the fight against corruption is beyond the capacity of President
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
has said the fight against corruption is beyond the capacity of President
Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
In a keynote lecture on ‘Stable Democracy and
Nigeria’s Economy’ delivered at the Houses of Parliament in London last night,
Buhari said the present government lacked the political will to fight the
rampant corruption bedevilling the country.
Nigeria’s Economy’ delivered at the Houses of Parliament in London last night,
Buhari said the present government lacked the political will to fight the
rampant corruption bedevilling the country.
He also said the Independent National
Electoral Commission would not deliver on free and fair elections, and that
INEC has a “cosy relationship with the executive and the judiciary.”
Electoral Commission would not deliver on free and fair elections, and that
INEC has a “cosy relationship with the executive and the judiciary.”
Buhari said ahead of the 2011 elections, INEC
requested and got N80 billion for elections and biometric data, but failed to
avail the litigating parties access to the data on grounds on national
security. He therefore said only the opposition, if they are strong enough,
could stop rigging in the country.
requested and got N80 billion for elections and biometric data, but failed to
avail the litigating parties access to the data on grounds on national
security. He therefore said only the opposition, if they are strong enough,
could stop rigging in the country.
He said though there was the need to
restructure the country, “the problem with Nigeria is not the structure but the
process”, and described the clamour for more states as “dysfunctional” and out
of place.
restructure the country, “the problem with Nigeria is not the structure but the
process”, and described the clamour for more states as “dysfunctional” and out
of place.
To get out of poverty and socio-economic
quagmire in the country, he said, the government should focus on agriculture
and provide the sector with all the necessary assistance to return the country
to agricultural boom and halt the rural-urban migration.
quagmire in the country, he said, the government should focus on agriculture
and provide the sector with all the necessary assistance to return the country
to agricultural boom and halt the rural-urban migration.
Earlier, the chair of British African
Development Programme, Lorraine Phelan, described Nigerians as a hard working
people who are blessed with wealth but living in poverty. She said it was time
for Nigerians to start “asking questions about and taking part in good
governance. Nigeria must succeed.”
Development Programme, Lorraine Phelan, described Nigerians as a hard working
people who are blessed with wealth but living in poverty. She said it was time
for Nigerians to start “asking questions about and taking part in good
governance. Nigeria must succeed.”
In her remarks, the hostess of the lecture,
Diane Abbot, said Nigeria was key to Africa’s future, stressing that Nigeria’s
failure would not just be a failure of Africa, but that of the black race as a
whole.
Diane Abbot, said Nigeria was key to Africa’s future, stressing that Nigeria’s
failure would not just be a failure of Africa, but that of the black race as a
whole.
Source: Daily Trust
