Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has said that corruption “depends on the issue raised in the media every day.”
He went to say: “I am not saying there is no corruption in Nigeria. There is corruption.
“If you look at corruption, there is almost no country that is free. The degree varies, the perception varies.
“Transparency International talks about the way corruption is being perceived in different economies. Why do we talk about the way corruption is being perceived?
“You will see that it has become a major topic whenever there is a change of government….”
Ex President Jonathan who was responding to a question after his lecture on Youth Entrepreneurship at the famous Oxford Union in the United Kingdom, insisted that allegations of corruption are not unique to his administration or Nigeria.
He admitted that there were some issues about the ongoing probe of some of those who served under him, especially, the former National Security Adviser, retired Sambo Dasuki, but that some of them were over blown.
“I’d say exaggerated and they give a very bad impression about our nation.
“They said the National Security Adviser (Sambo Dasuki) stole $2.2 billion. I don’t believe somebody can just steal $2.2 billion.
“We bought warships, we bought aircraft, we bought lots of weapons for the Army and so on and so forth and you are still saying $2.2 billion. So where did we get the money to buy all those things?
“You cannot say the National Security Adviser stole $2.2 billion. It is not just possible.”
Jonathan said that since some of the corruption cases are in court, he would allow the legal processes to reveal the facts of the matter.
“One thing about the issue of corruption is that these matters are in court. Let’s allow some of these processes to end.
“Lately, some judges’ (homes) were also invaded. There are so many things involved and we have to follow up these matters to conclusion before we know the fact.
“I don’t want to be seen as a former president challenging what the sitting government is doing so I have decided to keep quiet for the court to look into them.” [myad]
