By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) has said Nigerians do not appreciate the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s efforts towards stamping out corruption in the country.
He said the successes recorded under the administration, especially in assets recovery and sheer number of convictions of corrupt persons, were unprecedented.
The law professor argued that instead of showing gratitude, Nigerians were in the habit of talking “nonchalantly and irresponsibly” about the war on corruption.
He disclosed this while evaluating the success of the administration’s war on corruption in an interview published by Sunday Telegraph.
Sagay praised the suspended Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, stating that the war on graft was going “exceedingly well” under him.
He equally lauded the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye for his contributions.
Sagay said, “This government has been phenomenally successful in the fight against corruption, especially when you consider the monies that have been recovered from America and so on. It just keeps rolling in.
“The most important part would be to know how these recovered funds are being utilised, but I’ll tell you that It’s been used to cater for the plight of the most deprived Nigerians. For instance, the N5000 given to the poorest families, the quick loans given to medium and small scale businesses, including the trainings for young people’s skill acquisition programmes.
“I mean, it’s so phenomenal what this government has done. But, it’s a pity and I feel so sorry for Nigerians because we don’t appreciate what this government has done in the past five years.
“Nigerians are so disgruntled and talk nonchalantly and irresponsibly, and sadly, the so called elites, who ought to know better, fall under this category of people.
“So, it’s phenomenal what has been achieved and Magu has been the face of that success. Therefore, I would say that the anti-corruption war has been going on extremely well.”
