The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said the campaign against corruption is not the battle of the President, but that of all Nigerians.
While calling on Nigerians to join and support the war against corruption, Mohammed said if people were determined to fight the menace, corruption would be history.
The minister said this on Friday, while delivering a lecture at the Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
“This is not Buhari’s war; this is not the All Progressives Congress’ war. This is a war for all Nigerians and we must all join hands in waging the war,” he said.
“No power has ever been great enough to defeat a people who are determined to win. Let us all form what I call citizens’ coalition against corruption by speaking up against the crime, refusing to glorify or support looters, irrespective of how much dirty cash they dangle before us, and refusing to be divided along religious or ethnic lines.”
Speaking further, Lai Mohammed said Nigeria had lost $400bn in the oil sector alone, to corruption, while adding that Boko Haram insurgents reigned supreme for years because some military chiefs shared the funds meant to be used in prosecuting the war against the insurgents.
Mohammed stated that corruption in public office has over time, resulted in endemic poverty, poor infrastructure and lack of qualitative health care, among other effects.
“On the part of government, let me reiterate what I said earlier that there is no stopping this fight. Those who doubt the resolve of this administration to successfully wage this battle will learn a tough lesson, a lesson of their lives. Failure is not an option in this fight. In the days ahead, we plan a road show of sorts on corruption sensitisation efforts.”
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