Former Lagos State Governor and leader of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked Senator President, Dr. Bukola Saraki not to personalise his current trial in the Code of Conduct Tribunal over corruption and false assets declaration.
Tinubu, who spoke to newsmen at the side of Dodan Barracks Eid praying ground during Sallah celebration said that he too went through similar trial shortly after he completed his tenure as governor of Lagos.
“It is part of nation’s development. We cannot overlook a lot of things. And we cannot personalise a lot of things as if it was vendetta. We have to endure and be patient as we look for justice, equity and a balanced society.”
Tinubu insisted that time has come for the leadership of this country to strengthen the institutions of governance, asking: “if we do not strengthen these institutions, how can they work for the development of the nation? If we fail and result to blackmail, how can the nation reverse the decadence that is perceived in our society?”
The APC leader regretted that because of corruption and disregard for institutions of governance, citizens no longer believe government officials. “When one has a public responsibility, the citizens look at it as if the source of wealth to steal and mismanage public funds and do things are part of the democratic norms and values.
‘We have to live by example and by our words. We can be talking about it alone. We have to work it without any iota of blackmail.”
Tinubu insisted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would not overlook certain individuals and allegations in its fight against corruption, adding that the ongoing anti-corruption war embarked upon by the President would strengthen the country’s institutions and fast track development.
Tinubu, who called on Nigerians to often put God and the nation first in their daily activities, said “What is missing in Nigeria is lack of patriotism, dedication to God and to our people.”
The APC leader recalled that he too had experienced the trial at the CCT, adding: “it is not what I haven’t personally experienced.
“I have been through it. The second week I left office, I was invited by Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC. I went there and answered their questions. Later, I took them to court and I won.”
He noted that the country had surmounted some challenges but that to avoid a repeat of such, Nigerians must put the nation first and do the right thing.
“Yearly, we talk about sacrifice. I was charged to the tribunal. I went and challenged them to show proof. I was later discharged and acquainted because there was no evidence to prove their claims.
“If we want people to persevere, from the top to the bottom, we have to demonstrate as leaders that we are very serious about nation building too.
“Our leaders should look compassionately at the suffering masses and create the demand locally and diversify our economy. Go through it at once and have a nation that we will all be proud of, develop citizenship that will be blind to tribe or ethnicity but believe in character.”
Tinubu expressed worry that when Nigerians meet themselves outside the country, they embrace one another but immediately they arrive in this country, they revert to ethnicity, tribalism and others.
“We have to develop a new character and new nation.
“Every day we talk about the potential of this country but where are we? When one looks at a country like India, they don’t have oil but they were able to build an economy for themselves that is thriving today and creating employment for the youths.
“We want everything free but we have not put emphasis on the training of our youths and retraining of our teachers to put education in forefront of investment that is necessary for this country.
“We still believe that education is the weapon against poverty. And to achieve it, we have to rededicate ourselves and make those sacrifices in order to lift the country out of poverty.” [myad]
