President Muhammed Buhari vehemently condemned the atrocious stealing of public funds that took place under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He decries the diversion of money earmarked arms, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure by politicians without any thought of the consequences to the larger society.
Speaking through the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday at a National Political Summit, Buhari said under democracy, what the country needs is a “moral elite, a leadership that is ready to make the sacrifice of self and interest for the good of the people.”
According to the President: “Democracy by itself can’t heal the terrible defect in the human condition that makes the politician demand and take, steal the resources that are meant to provide drugs in the hospitals, schools for our children and roads for us all.
“We are all witnesses to some of the revelations of the way some of the political office holders in the last administration, corruptly handled billions of dollars and funds meant to procure arms and equipment including protective weapons and vehicles for the brave young men and women which our nation sent to battle for the protection of the territorial integrity of Nigeria.
So perhaps we need to look beyond democracy to address the deadly policy often seen in Africa and Nigeria. The president added: “People must be prepared to serve without making profit or wealth in anyway and I think I understand that political leadership in my calling is like a priesthood of sort, a sacrificial lamb in service to the people in place of personal ambition.
On his part, the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, called on the nation’s political office holders to deliver on their promises to the people.
