President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that the fight against Corruption is non-negotiable.t
Speaking when he received the former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, at the presidential Villa in Abuja today,Thursday, Buhari stressed that he would allow the enormous resources being deployed by corrupt politicians and other leaders to destrac him.
“We must fight corruption frontally, because it’s one of the reasons we got elected. We campaigned on three fundamental issues; security, reviving the economy, and fight against corruption. It’s the reason we got elected, and we can’t afford to let our people down.”
The Nigerian leader acknowledged that hisgovernment is making progress on the anti-corruption war, “and not just talking,” even as he expressed his delight with the former South African President for the assignment he is carrying out for the African continent.
He stressed that when Africa is vigorous with the war against corruption, “we will eventually appeal to the conscience of the rest of the world.”
In his remarks, former President Mbeki said that corruption has remained the African challenge which he insisted must be responded to.
“Development challenges can only be met through the check on illicit financial flows.”
He said he was delighted that President Buhari touches on the issue in most of his speeches, with the most recent being at the United Nations General Assembly last week.
“We are pleased with the way you take up the matter. Countries need political will to stop the illicit flow. Nigeria has shown good example. The more we are showing that we are acting as Africans, the easier to get the rest of the world to cooperate.”
Mbeki heads the African Union High Level Panel on Illicit Flows from Africa, and he was in Abuja to give the President, who is the current Champion of AU Anti-Corruption Campaign, critical updates.
