When the "CHANGE" political mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC) attracted majority of Nigerian voters and secured the mandate of the electorate in the 2015 presidential election, Nigerians expected the new national ruling party to change the corrupt system of government of the former national ruling party, People's Democratic Party (PDP) after misruling Nigeria for 16 years with the institutionalization of corruption. But many of them seem to be disappointed by the shortcomings of the new administration of the government under President Muhammadu Buhari. He is the most fearless Nigerian Head of State to fight corruption since when he was a military Head of State from December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985. And his anti-corruption policy made the corrupt ruling class not to support his previous presidential campaigns and he was defeated in the presidential elections of 2003, 2007 and 2011. Then in December 2014, he became the presidential candidate of the APC after he compromised his rigid principles as an anti-corruption crusader and the powerful leaders of the political ruling class supported him to win the presidential election of 28–29 March, 2015, by defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan; the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost to an opposition candidate in a general election.
The reformation of Nigerian government has not been easy for President Buhari, because of the power struggle between the evil and greedy cabals in the corridors of power in Abuja and he is now like a shepherd surrounded by wolves in sheep clothing.
The leadership of the ruling party, APC includes several former leaders of the old ruling party, PDP who crossed carpet to join the APC before the presidential election. And they have been frustrating President Buhari and turning public opinion against him.
Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption recently spoke out that corrupt practices are still going on in the present administration and indicted the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Nigeria Customs Service.
“There is no difference in Customs since May 29, 2015. If you go to Tin Can Island, it is business as usual,” Prof. Sagay said.
From eye witness accounts and reports by whistle blowers, it is still business as usual from the Nigerian Customs to the Nigerian Immigrations with acts of bribery and corruption in broad daylight. Nothing has changed.
When it comes to corruption, government and private sector are partners in crime. And from a recent public poll by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), majority of Nigerians suggest capital punishment as the most appropriate solution for the eradication of corruption in Nigeria, because if we don't destroy corruption, the terrible consequences of corruption will destroy Nigeria.
~ By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, https://www.amazon.com/author/ekenyerengozimichaelchima, author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream: My Testimony on the 2015 Presidential Election".
Click here to get the book on Lulu. Click here to get the book on Amazon.
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