We Need Support In Our Fight Against Corruption— Minister

THE Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has enjoined the global anticorruption body, Transparency International (TI) to support, rather than condemn the Buhari Administration’s fight against corruption.

He said TI and the local civil society organisations affiliated to it have not offered necessary support to the administration, adding that they look at the actions of an aberrant few to condemn the government.

However, TI said it is not an opposition anywhere in the world, but only a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) working in over 100 countries. “We are not enemies. We are here to help,” it said.

Receiving TI delegation, led by the Chair of the body’s International Board, Delia Ferreira Rubio, in Abuja, the Minister said Nigeria has never had a more transparent and accountable government than the current administration.

He said: “As a policy, this government is the most committed to fighting corruption. We need your support in the area of advocacy and capacity building.”

Lai Mohammed noted that when the government disclosed that just 55 people stole N1.34trn between 2006 and 2013, and published the list of alleged looters, in response to a challenge from the opposition, a section of the civil society was busy parroting the cliche that the allegations were one-sided, instead of supporting government’s action.