The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to avoid making his war on corruption a war on perceived enemies and political opponents.
This disclosure was made by Rev. Philip Ademowo, the Diocesan Bishop of Omu Aran Diocese, Ilorin, Kwara State who spoke to newsmen after the Third session of the second synod of the Diocese.
“We support the anti-corruption war of this administration; we agree with the president that if we don’t destroy corruption, it will destroy us. But let there be no victimization and falsehood in the progress of the fight,” Rev. Ademowo said.
He said that the church was solidly behind calls in certain quarters that the government should publish the amount of funds recovered from corrupt officials to avoid its being diverted.
The clergyman stated that while the church was not totally against the death penalty for corrupt public officials, he did not feel Nigeria needed it badly.
“Let’s tamper justice with mercy. Thank God, the President has constituted a seven-man Presidential Advisory Committee on War Against Corruption, headed by a renowned and disciplined man – Prof. Itse Sagay, who is working on the best way to handle the matter.
“In my opinion, if any looter releases his /her loot he/she should be given light punishment and not capital punishment, but if anyone fails to release his/her loot, such one should be punished severely.
“When there is repentance there should be forgiveness,” Ademowo noted.
He stated that bare-faced corruption was the reason Nigerians were suffering so much despite the nation’s vast resources. Corruption is “the main reason why a potentially prosperous country is struggling for survival,” he averred.