Ambode’s wife, Magu link recession, falling value of naira to corruption

By Moshood Adebayo and Romanus Okoye

Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has vowed to work against any corrupt individual from leading the country in future, just as he prayed to God, to let President Muhammadu Buhari complete his tenure.

The monarch, who  spoke at the launch of Nigerian Women Against Corruption (WAC), in Lagos, yesterday, also commended Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for his achievements in office, in less than two years.

The monarch attributed reasons for corruption to some government polices such as lack of security of tenure and inadequate mobilisation of contractors for public projects.

According to him, the success recorded by Ambode is a pointer to the fact that there is still hope for Nigeria.

“Never again will a corrupt man become Nigeria’s president. There is no room for somebody who spent the first three years of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration making money and turning many companies to his own to come back to be the president of this country again. I mean it and by God’s grace, it shall be so.

“If a man can achieve this much in office, under two years, it shows clearly that there is still hope for this country and whether we like it or not, we should thank God and commend Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.”

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, condemned Nigerians supporting convicted corrupt politicians.

She said this  would not augur well for the country in its quest to eliminate corruption and move ahead.

Meanwhile, acting Chairman, Economic  and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and Ambode’s wife, Bolanle, have linked the current recession and falling value of the naira to corruption in the country.

The duo spoke at the launch of WAC where wives of South-West governors were in attendance.

While Magu traced the genesis of Nigeria’s current economic  problems to the long years of unbreakable chain of corruption, Bolanle viewed corruption as one of the manifestations of deficient moral values in the country.

“In fact, corruption is the cause of the current recession and the falling value of the naira. If there is one enemy that we need to urgently confront, it is corruption; it has eroded almost all the benefits that we should be enjoying from our natural resources,” Magu said.

The anti-graft agency boss, who charged Nigerians not to sit down and watch Nigeria drift to intolerable poverty, said there is no better time to act than now.

In particular, he urged Nigerian women to be change- agents and help in the task of building a better Nigeria for  present and future generations and added that the power of women to change the destiny of a nation cannot be underestimated.

“I dare say that women hold the key to the success of the fight against corruption in Nigeria. Corruption thrives when they keep quiet. But, now, it is time to speak out and we shall, from today, speak with one voice.

“We all own Nigeria and we are all stakeholders in this project; so, we must be ready now, more than ever before to be corruption watchdogs and whistleblowers”

On her part, Bolanle said the fight against corruption should be seen as a priority where everyone should be involved “if we desire to address issue of poverty and make the economy work.”

She commended Magu and his team for initiating the  launch of WAC.

“It is a fact that women account for almost half of the Nigerian population. It, therefore, follows that such huge population must be carried along, as critical stakeholders on issues bordering on national development.

“If we view corruption as one of the manifestations of deficient moral values, we must begin to pay proper attention to the home and ensure that our children are given the right upbringing, based on values of honesty, integrity, trust, the fear of God and dignity of labour.”

She urged women in Lagos and the South-West region to take a stand against corruption.