Onaiyekan Advises Buhari To Tread Softly On Anti-Graft Probe

John Cardinal Onaiyekan

The Catholic Arch-Bishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, on Tuesday night advised President Muhammadu Buhari to go slowly on his anti-corruption drive so that his actions are not seen as ‘persecution’. He spoke during an evening dinner organized for Catholics in Politics at the Church of the Assumption, Asokoro, Abuja. Pointing out that fighting corruption goes beyond making a ‘few arrests here and there’ he urged President Buhari to carry out his anti-corruption fight in a way that would not be seen as selective.

The Nation reports:

He also said the fight against corruption can only succeed where there is transparency, justice and honesty.

“This challenge, obviously lies squarely on those who now have the power to rule our nation. I want to beg them, and I am glad the chairman of the ruling party is here, to resist the temptation to rub in the plagues of defeat on the losers and try to avoid policies of persecution, some even talk of execution of losers.

“We have to tackle dishonesty and I believe we need to retrieve stolen goods, especially those that are just piling up other people’s money. While we do that, it is my strong feeling that we should try to avoid as much as possible humiliating or disgracing people who may indeed have tried their best to serve the nation.

“How to do this and keep these two elements together requires a lot of sagacity and clear mindedness. But we should pray for our leaders to be granted the grace.

“We must be clear-minded on this matter and not allow ourselves to be naïve thinking that it is just enough to make a few arrests here and there and the matter is settled. Let us pray that God will guide our nation.”

On insecurity, he said Nigeria needs to go beyond arms and ammunition in order to reconcile minds and hearts for genuine peace.

The time, he said, has come for all to link hands and seriously tackle the problems facing the country.

“The problems of Nigeria can only be resolved if we all link hands across political, ethnic and religious lines.”