Fight corruption, fight stagnation

There is no patriotic Nigerian who is not in support of President Buhari’s oft-repeated determination to “kill corruption before it kills Nigeria.”
An objective analysis of the mood of the people since he assumed office almost four months ago will confirm the frenzy for legislative lynching of looters of government money as the reigning mantra of the masses.
Indeed, if corruption will ever be confronted with the consolidated clout of leader and the led against the scourge, then, it is the Buhari-led Presidency that can achieve it.
Buhari is a veteran of the unarmed war against corruption in government, whose tenure as a military head of state was similarly focused on tackling corruption.
However, Buhari has come to terms with the “Nigerian Factor” in the anti-corruption, admitting that our democracy and the Constitution constitute considerable constraints, which were non-existent in his military days.
He even remarked on one occasion that he could not vouch for the sincere commitment of the law enforcement agents responsible for investigations and prosecutions or the judiciary in dispensing justice without jaundice.
So he said he would just “draw a line” and deal with corruption cases that occur under his watch.
The need to abide by such democratic off-shoots as due process, constitutional compliance, legislative clearance and fair hearing, not to mention the ludicrous and lackadaisical loopholes of international law on recovery of “looted funds” have become clogs in the wheel of Buhari’s bulldozer.
Even the vexed issue of excessive delay in appointing ministers is blamed on the frustration of finding “clean” candidates who will not pollute the puritanical profile of his administration.
While we wait for the change under the Buhari-led Presidency, there is a demand for urgent and pragmatic resuscitation of the business of government, on which the overwhelming majority of citizens and corporate organisations depend.
From the prevailing situation across the country, it can be deduced that Buhari is expected to adopt a live-and-let-live approach to governance to avoid the looming tragedy of killing the country in his bid to “prevent corruption from killing Nigeria”.
There is a desperate cause for concern when, according to a recent media report that contractors handling over 184 federal road projects worth N1.76 trillion have abandoned sites due to lack of funding from the federal government and the huge debt owed them by the federal ministry of works.
President, Federation of Construction Industry, Mr. Solomon Ogunbusola, said that all uncompleted federal roads have been abandoned as the federal government owed contractors a huge sum of money.
He, however, added that their decision was not in protest against the government, but because they have no funds.
In a related development, the there were also reports that in the last three months thousands of workers have lost their jobs as construction firms continue to lay-off staff due to lack of funds.
Amechi Asugwuni, the president, National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and WoodWorkers (NUCECFWW), described the development as worrisome, urging Buhari to “reactivate all ongoing projects to stimulate employment while fighting corruption.”
Members of the House of Representatives summoned officials of the finance ministry to explain why the 2015 Appropriation Act is not being implemented.
The House constituted an ad-hoc committee to investigate the non-implementation of the budget, following a motion promoted by Rep. Patrick Asadu, who accused the federal government of abandoning the implementation of the 2015 budget and capital projects, almost mid-way into the third quarter of the financial year.
He argued that the non-release of funds deprives the country of highly needed basic facilities and stunts the nation’s economic growth.
Buhari should look into these challenges which are as bad for the national economy as they are lethal on the welfare and prosperity of the people. Either way, these are perfect scenarios for corruption and other social vices to thrive.
While fighting corruption, Buhari should seek fresh initiatives to kill corruption without killing the nation.
Olorogun writes from Lagos