Nigeria Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has called on Nigerians not to give the proposed war against corruption an ethnic colouration, insisting that nobody should be allowed to pocket public money.
Osinbajo made it clear that corruption by its very nature is antithetical and inimical to the development of any nation.
The Vice President who spoke when he a delegation of Yoruba Traditional Council in the Northern States and Abuja paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday insisted that everyone needs to uphold the virtues of truth and justice if the country must make progress in the anti-corruption campaign.
He emphasized that people should not give the anti-corruption fight any ethnic colouration as a way of escaping punishment, adding: “when there is a fight against corruption, it is not an ethnic fight; it is not an ethnic battle. People can come up with all sorts of things and say it is selective. People say the reason why a man is being tried for corruption is because he is a Yoruba man, or he is from the North or from the South. We should not encourage this kind of ideas.”
Professor Osinbajo observed that there is no country in the world that has become great through corruption.
“The history of the world shows that corruption has ruined many empires. “When those empires attain greatness and they begin to allow corruption, then they collapse.”
Osinbajo stressed the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to the fight corruption, adding: “President Muhammadu Buhari has committed this current government to a pathway of integrity.
“For the first time, I think in a very long time, the President is saying that this country can only move forward if we show ourselves as men and women of integrity.”
The Vice President therefore sought the support of the traditional rulers in the crusade against corruption even as he said that Nigerian cultures abhor corruption.
He commended the representatives of the Yoruba communities from the Northern states for living peacefully with their hosts in their various communities, even as he asked them to imbibe the attributes of ‘‘Omoluabi’’ which he said represents the positive virtues of forthrightness and integrity. (Omoluabi means a forthright, loyal and respectful person).
“I think you have demonstrated clearly by living in the north, living in Abuja and making your home and businesses here, that you believe in this country. That shows you believe in the unity of this country and I think that is very commendable.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Yoruba Traditional Council in the Northern States and Abuja, who led the delegation, Ambassador Mohammed Arigbabuwo, had commended the vision and philosophy behind the Change Agenda of the Buhari administration.
He declared the total support of his Council to the anti-corruption crusade of the government even as he acknowledged that the much desired change is already being felt.
“In the last three months, you will agree that many things have started taking positive shape for the people of this country, such as constant electricity which has helped greatly to stabilize small scale and medium scale industries.” [myad]
Advertisement
