The
Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has revealed how the
immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan looked the other way while just
fifty-five people were busy looting the national treasury.
“His (Jonathan’s) tolerance of corruption was reflected in the sunset of activities of anti-corruption agencies under his watch and exponential increase of other vices no doubt fuel by corruption.”
According
to the Committee in its report on the activities of the government from August
2015 to July 2016, which was presented to civil society organizations (CSOs) by
its Executive Secretary, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, in Abuja, the former
President tolerated corruption to the extent that in seven
years under his watch, only 55 people stole a whopping N1.3 trillion
from the national treasury.
The
committee insisted that corruption brought Nigeria to its knees in the last
administration as the former President closed his eyes to graft while his
administration fared worse than his predecessors in tackling official sleaze.
“His
(Jonathan’s) tolerance of corruption was reflected in the sunset of activities
of anti-corruption agencies under his watch and exponential increase of other
vices no doubt fuel by corruption,” the report declared.
It added:
“for example, it is widely believed that insecurity escalated because of the
massive embezzlement of $2billion through the Office of the National Security
Adviser under the leadership of Col. Sambo Dasuki, who allegedly diverted the
money appropriated to fight insurgency.
“The
problems in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry reached zenith with
multi-billion dollars subsidy scams while President Jonathan looked the other
way.
“At the
same time, other vices spread like cancer – kidnapping, import duty waivers,
financial recklessness, a profligate legislature, corrupt judiciary, etc. There
was no single high profile conviction under his watch yet there were
allegations of high profile corruption within his cabinet.
“Jonathan’s
legendary comment that stealing is not corruption underscored his perspective
on corruption and remains a watershed in the history of anti-corruption crusade
in Nigeria.
“Under
his watch, corruption brought Nigeria to its knees.
“Using
World Bank rates, one-third of the N1.3 trillion allegedly stolen by only 55
people in seven years could have provided
635.18 kilometers of roads, built 36 ultra-modern hospitals in each state,
built and furnished 183 schools, educated 3,974 people from primary to tertiary
level (at N25.2million per child) and built 20,062 units of two-bedroom houses.
“While
former President Olusegun Obasanjo established key anti-corruption agencies
which led to high-profile convictions even though his actions were not above
board, the crusade against corruption went comatose from 2007 largely due to
leadership deficit.
“Corruption
is Nigeria’s greatest challenge and is directly associated with the current
economic decline, poverty rates, reduced life expectancy, mortality and
deteriorated living standards.
“Due to
corruption, a few Nigerians were richer than their states, while plea
bargaining was abused as people who stole the country dry were given slaps on
the wrist and asked to go home.”
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