The Presiding Bishop of the Redeemed Evangelical Mission, Dr. Mike Okonkwo, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is just “scratching corruption” as no one has been jailed since his anti-corruption agenda began.
Okonkwo spoke in Abuja on Sunday evening at the special service to mark the end of the 4th annual Leading Edge Conference of TREM.
Okonkwo added that he did not see President Buhari eradicating corruption even if he spends two terms.
He said: “I think there should be a fresh orientation. Buhari is just scratching corruption. I don’t see him eradicating corruption even if he spends two terms. The only way we can eradicate corruption in this country is to begin fresh re-orientation. In fact, we should go to kindergarten to begin to create a new crop of Nigerians who would think patriotism.
“We have celebrated thieves, we have celebrated bandits and robbers and we have told young people that hard labour is not useful. Steal money and then you will be celebrated. That’s what they had been taught, young people are not willing to go to school even those who go to school are into this corruption issue.
“All hands must be on deck, not what the government can do alone. We should accept that corruption has brought us to our knees. Tourism alone can be more productive. We didn’t look at that. During our prosperous days, we misused our earnings that we could have used to develop other economy. We have been brought to our knees. We should stop pointing fingers. The issue is not political party issueý.
“The same goes with insecurity; the government should be bold enough to deal decisively with those people who are creating confusion. Thank God for Boko Haram that is a bit reduced, I don’t see a reason why the cattle rearers should be going to villages and killing people and we are saying we want to go and pass a bill on that.
“We can’t pass a bill for somebody who is going to go to my backyard and kill me. We should first of all determine who these people are; why are they killing villagers? These have never been the norms in this country. That is an indication that something is wrong as far as this issue is concerned and the government should be bold enough to be decisive about it.
“We shouldn’t rush and pass a bill. We should sit first and sort out who are they because that is another form of Boko Haram.”