Corruption Rating: TI, Activists Slam Jonathan

Nigerian activists have asked President Goodluck Jonathan to apologise to the citizens of the country for deliberately distorting information on the corruption rating of Nigeria by  Transparency International (TI).

President Jonathan, who said the fight against corruption was topmost on the agenda of his government, had told the world that his fight against corruption had become so effective that  Transparency International rated Nigeria second best country in the world in the war against corruption.

According to the President in a national broadcast to mark the country’s 52nd Independence anniversary on Monday, “we have exposed decades of scam in the management of pensions and fuel subsidy, and ensured that the culprits are being brought to book.

“In its latest report, Transparency International (TI) noted that Nigeria is the second most improved country in the effort to curb corruption.”

However, TI has denied publishing any recent rating or publishing any corruption index recently, adding that the last Corruption Perception Index was in 2011 and which ranked Nigeria 143 out of the 183 countries in the report.

In his reaction to the speech, former lawmaker, Patrick Obahiagbon simply described it as a ‘ramble’ adding that such a speech was simply too much to ask for at this point.

For Femi Fani Kayode, former Minister of Aviation, the President’s speech is most uninspiring.

“It really is sad. I feel sorry for Nigerians,” he said.

Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir el-Rufai, described the 18 minutes speech as “full of false claims of accomplishments no one can see or feel, and promises that no one believes will be fulfilled.”A social analyst, Tony Ebinum, said though public speaking does not make a good president, the speech by President Jonathan had made him “a big pipe.

“Either Transparency International are drunk or Jonah (Jonathan) is telling a lie as usual.”

Former member of the House of Representatives, Dino Melaye, descibed the speech as falsehood.

According to him, “the type of colossal corruption under Jonathan as president, growing daily unabated, shows that he is overwhelmed and does not know what to do.”

He said the President was surrounded by the wrong team players.

“In 2015 when we go scouting for a President, Nigerians must be wary of men who don’t give a damn.

“President GEJ (Goodluck Ebele Jonathan) did not prepare to be President and also did not groom himself to be one. He did not also read or learn from presidents,” he added.

For Comrade Debo Adeniran of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), the President had not only falsified information, he has also shown his love for corruption through the speech.

Comrade Adeniran recalled that nothing had come out of the corruption scandal between a member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan and businessman, Femi Otedola.

He also recalled that nothing tangible had been heard of those who were indicted in the fuel subsidy scam in the country.

“He should not bamboozle Nigerians with false claims because this shows he deliberately wants to deceive Nigerians.

“He must come out, humble himself and apologise to Transparency International and Nigerians,” Comrade Adeniran said.

President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Comrade Yerima Shettima says it is unfortunate that the speech did not say anything order than distort facts.

“The President came out to say what is not true because we all know that this is one of the worst governments we have had.

“Apart from shielding corrupt people, he appointed one of the most corrupt persons in the country, Doyin Okupe, even against public outcry.

“The President is one without vision, he is clueless and used by people in his government,” he said.

He described the country as being in its dark days with a person like President Jonathan at leader, saying he was not in control.

—Eromosele Ebhomele