Press statement from the presidency
Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN has
declared that nobody has a right to pocket public
money stating that corruption by its very nature is
antithetical and inimical to the development of any
nation. Prof. Osinbajo noted that everyone needs to
uphold the virtues of truth and justice if the country
must make progress in the anti-corruption campaign
emphasizing that people should not give the anti-
corruption fight any ethnic coloration in order to
escape punishment.
He explained that ''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.'' The Vice President disclosed this on Thursday,
27th August 2015 evening when he received in his office the
delegation of the Yoruba Traditional Council in the Northern
States and Abuja led by the Chairman, His Royal Highness,
Ambassador Mohammed Arigbabuwo. Prof. Osinbajo
observed that there is no country in the world that has
become great through corruption noting that as a matter of
fact ''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'', the Vice President
noted. Stating the commitment of President Muhammadu
Buhari to the fight corruption, Prof. Osinbajo said ''
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'', he noted.
The Vice President therefore sought the support of the
traditional rulers in the crusade against corruption
emphasizing that Nigerian cultures abhor corruption. While
commending the representatives of the Yoruba
communities from the Northern states for living peacefully
with their hosts in their various communities, he implored
them to imbibe the attributes of ''Omoluabi'' which he
explains represents the positive virtues of forthrightness
and integrity. [Omoluabi means a forthright, loyal and
respectful person] He declared that '' 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.'' In his own address at the
occasion, the Chairman of the Yoruba Traditional Council in
the Northern States and Abuja, who led the delegation
commended the vision and philosophy behind the Change
Agenda of the Buhari administration. While declaring the
total support of his Council to the anti-corruption crusade,
Ambassador Arigbabuwo 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.''
Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President
(Media &Publicity)
0 comments:
Post a Comment