World Bank has backed President Elect, Gen. Mohamamadu Buhari’s decision to probe allegations of missing funds in the Nigerian National Electoral Commission.
While speaking in a video conference from Washington to journalists from across Africa on the release of the bank’s analysis of issues shaping the continent entitled, ‘Africa’s Pulse’, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, Mr. Francisco Ferreira, said “One norm that has to change is the norm of impunity. I am from Brazil myself. So I am also used to a country where people could be corrupt and escape justice. That keeps the people to keep doing it.
“So, the current stand of the government-elect to look into what happened in the past hopefully will have consequences for the future. And those consequences will be that institutions will be stronger; norms will be cleaner and people will not have to steal millions of dollars from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
“People have alleged in the past that there had been major corruption scandals there. If that stops, then that will have very high returns in terms of the money staying around to be spent on education, health, roads and power that the poor people across the country need.
“So, my sense is that it will be good to promote cleanliness in politics.”
Ferreira also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for the political maturity he exhibited during the elections.
Meanwhile Director, Research, Planning and Strategy of Buhari Support Organisation Mr Jamal Tijani-Bello in an interview with newsmen in Osogbo said Buhari would not probe previous administrations.
Tijani-Bello said “Buhari’s policy is to serve the people first. His philosophy is about people first. He is not concerned with those who had ruled the country before but his major concern is how to serve the people and develop this country to the admiration of the former leaders and the upcoming ones.”
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