The Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi has revealed that the Preident, Muhammadu Buhari will not spare anyone found corrupt in his cabinet.
Amaechi further disclosed that Buhari’s plan is to use such persons in his cabinet to set an example for others in the nation adding that Buhari had ordered anti-corruption agencies to go after anyone found corrupt under his administration.
Amaechi, on Monday while delivering a keynote speech at the Cambridge University said: “As someone who has been in active politics for more than 30 years, I have learnt that many well-intended reforms are possible only if the leader can offer the requisite leadership and muster the right political will.”
He further added: “In my country, since our President, Muhammadu Buhari was elected, he did not leave anyone in doubt that the fight against corruption will not only be taken seriously but will form a cardinal plank of his policy direction.
“So far, he has made several pronouncements that set the tone of his commitment to strengthening anti-corruption agencies to go after anyone who has questions to answer. The president’s resolve was enough to signal all of us, members of his cabinet and the citizenry, that an end has come for the old ways of doing things.
“Currently, many people who have been indicted in one form of corrupt practice or another are being prosecuted in our courts. That, I believe is the way to show leadership and take responsibility.
“Our president has stopped at nothing to demonstrate that whosoever is caught in corruption related crimes will not be spared.”
Amaechi further in his speech tasked leaders to set a good example for their followers and be bound by their promises. He urged leaders to take responsibility when economic crime or corruption happens.
“They should be held accountable. Leadership is expected to do three simple things, perhaps four: upholding the primacy of leadership and political will, insisting on the force of example, enforcing the urgency of incentives and the necessity of sanctions and finally by leveraging on the power of partnership.
“Another important factor is what I refer to as the force of example. There is very little any leader can achieve if he talks the right political talk without offering personal examples.
“In these days of internet and social media revolution, citizens often spend time to scrutinize the reputation and activities of any leader to find out if they are consistent with what he or she stands for in the media. Essentially leaders must practise what they preach if they expect to be taken seriously both by those within their organisations, state or country.”