A second republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has deplored President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent offer to assist Ghana in its fight against corruption.
Mohammed, who is now the National Vice-Chairman of the newly resuscitated Social Democratic Party, described Buhari’s statement as “silly and shameful.”
He spoke in an exclusive chat with our correspondent.
President Buhari had, last week, as a guest during Ghana’s 61st Independence Day celebration, assured President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Nigeria’s readiness to come to the aid of the country in its anti-corruption crusade.
But Mohammed said he found the statement by President Buhari ridiculous, dishonest and fraudulent.
The SDP leader, who maintained that the Buhari-led Federal Government had failed in its fight against corruption, argued that Ghana was more successful in fighting the social scourge than Nigeria.
While noting that the Ghanaian government had addressed corruption where it mattered most, particularly within the country’s judiciary, Junaid said corruption amongst politically exposed individuals and judges in Nigeria had become difficult to contain.
He said, “I find the comment silly, dishonest, fraudulent and actually shameful, because Ghana has had more success fighting corruption than Nigeria. And Ghana has touched corruption where it matters, particularly within the judiciary; compare that with the absolute failure of Nigerian judiciary. Ghana has nothing to learn from us in key strategic areas.
“In fact, Nigeria has a lot to learn from Ghana. Some of the people who are politically exposed, regard themselves as powerful people, refuse to go to jail, especially judges, who should be dealt with.
“And if you don’t fight corruption in the judiciary, you don’t have a chance of defeating the scourge and I don’t believe that has been addressed in Nigeria.”
Rating Buhari’s anti-corruption fight, he said, “In my rating, I will give him 30 per cent, 28 per cent in driving the economy and, of course, I’ll give him 45 per cent in fighting insurgency.”
Muhammed, however, advised Buhari to ensure that he removed the speck in his own eyes before offering to assist somebody else with the log in their own
