SAN FRANCISCO, May 12, (THEWILL) – Recent comments by the British Prime Minister David Cameron, tagging Nigeria as a ‘fantastically corrupt’ nation, has opened a can of worms in the sincerity of world leaders’ fight against corruption.
While it is not an understatement to say that corruption in Nigeria has over the years assumed a groundswell, it’s surprising that Cameron singled out Nigeria and Afghanistan, in this growing syndrome which incidentally has networked across the globe, including Britain.
In the face of this disorder, President Muhammadu Buhari, more than ever before in the history of the country, has demonstrated a strong will in fighting against the monster. It is clear to all that the fight against corruption is the central point of his administration.
Cameron’s comment, coming on the eve of a summit on corruption in London, cannot be dismissed as mere rhetoric. It is well known that it takes two to tangle in any corruption case. As a way of showing how strange corruption is to Nigeria, former President Olusegun Obasanjo had reminded that the word ‘corruption’ struggles to find a word in Nigerian languages that better captures its meaning.
THEWILL salutes the courage of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Rev’d Justin Welby, who interjected that Buhari is actually not corrupt and is doing a great job in Nigeria.
From the Second Republic till date, top public servants have exploited Britain’s open-arm attitude to steal the country’s resources with impunity. We recall Britain’s ignoble role in the corruption allegations involving one-time Minister of Transport, Umaru Dikko, former governor of Plateau State Joshua Dariye and former governor of Bayelsa State, the late Diepreye Alamieyeiseigha, among others.
In the assets declaration trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki, several properties, among them a 5.7m pounds home, have allegedly been found in the UK. This is even as a similar allegation is pending in London against former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
These are just a few cases. Unfortunately, only a negligible few ever get mentioned, even with Cameron as the Prime Minister.
THEWILL aligns with the position taken by President Buhari in his reaction. Nigeria does not need any apology from Cameron, but a return of our assets that have been stolen over the years. Yes, Buhari admitted that there is corruption in Nigeria, which of course explains why he is engaged in the anti-corruption fight.
According to Buhari, BP and Shell have been key players in the Nigeria’s oil industry from the start. They know the companies and individuals, who are involved in the daylight robberies that have characterized the oil sector. Yet, they have never spoken up.
The call for a multi-state and multi-stakeholder agency to combat the hydra-headed monster is a wake-up call. The need for Open Government Partnership; an international body designed to make government activities more transparent, becomes more contemporary now than ever before.
THEWILL urges Cameron and other world leaders to look homeward for banks, estate agents, organisations and individuals who are aiding Nigeria and other nations to remain ‘fantastically corrupt.’ We want to see Cameron’s Britain ordering the immediate release of all stolen assets belonging to Nigeria.
If the entire world shows sincerity and transparency in rejecting stolen monies, corruption would simply die. But as long as these so-called developed countries continue to play hypocritical roles in looting the treasury of developing nations, corruption may continue to linger.
However, we advise Buhari to broaden his anti-corruption fight. The notion that the current tempo is aimed at muzzling the opposition should not be given credibility. THEWILL believes that one way the nation’s image can be laundered across the globe is by revisiting notable corruption cases involving Nigeria, such as the Halliburton and Siemens scandals.
