President
Muhammadu Buhari has vowed that no corrupt leader, whether past or current,
would go unpunished no matter how highly placed.
He said anyone
found to have illegally obtained monies meant for the good of Nigerians would
not be spared as the anti-corruption agencies has been repositioned to
undertake the legal battle against them.
The Sun news reported that, Mr President
who stated this at the “Summit on security and development agenda for Northern
Nigeria” organised by Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, yesterday, in
Kaduna added that era of stealing public wealth without fear was over.
Buhari who was
represented by the Minister of Interior, Lt. General Abdulrahman Bello
Danbazau, said that there was no going back on the anti-corruption fight of his
administration.
He said the
challenges confronting the nation included the reality of terrorism, the rise
of proto-national ethnic agitations, the scandalising effect of rampant
corruption in a period of great want among others.
According to
him, “terrorism and insecurity in the North-East particularly has been brought
to the barest minimum and what remains is the social programmes, already
on-going, to guarantee a lasting peace.
“Political
engagement at various levels have been carried out to ensure that all segments
of our polity are carried along in decision making as it relates to development
of our country even as a line has been drawn against actions that threaten the
corporate existence of Nigeria on which there can be no negotiation.
“The
herders-sedentary farmers’ conflict is very rife with us, even though it also
has a regional dimension. This is one serious matter that affects most
concerned persons in this forum, next to the collateral kidnapping for ransom
and problems associated to it.
“As you are
all aware, the security forces, including the intelligence outfits, have been
mandated to combine their efforts to rid our people of the violent levels it
has escalated in recent times, leading to regrettable loss of lives and
property, at a national scale,” he said.
In his remark,
Borno State Governor and Chairman Northern State Governors’ Forum, Alhaji
Kashim Shettima, said it was time the North shunned all forms of
discrimination. He admonished the region’s majority to learn to cherish the
minority.
He said
Muslims in Borno or Kano states should accept and support Christians from Benue
or Kogi states, embrace them as eminently representing all Northerners.
“And this
should be vice-versa so we can collectively move the region from where we are
to where we ought to be,” he said.
According to
him, coexistence is easily entrenched when the majority display magnanimity to
the minority.
“The north has
majority Muslims and the majority must make deliberate efforts to earn the
trust of the minority. In our respective states, a governor of a majority
Muslim state must make deliberate efforts to be fair and to show love and
empathy to the minority Christian population.
“In the same
vein, a governor in a majority Christian population must make conscious effort
to demonstrate love and empathy for the minority Muslim population. This is the
kind of chapter that is currently being written by Governor Lalong in Plateau
State. Ethno-religious harmony is fast being rebuilt in Plateau State because of
the leadership credentials of Lalong.
“The fairness,
justness or otherwise of any leader, can unite or divide any society. When a
segment perceives a leader as being unjust, a sense of marginalization builds
up and breeds hatred amongst the mass, kith and kin.
“Naturally,
neighbours begin to live in hate, each side waiting for the slightest
opportunity to prove extent of hatred. The majority must always be large at
heart and the minority must always be fair in acknowledging the realities of
numbers. We must be truthful to ourselves,” he said.
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