Buhari Says He Inherited Unbelievable Level Of Corruption

Source: thewillnigeria.com

BEVERLY HILL, December 01, (THEWILL) – President Muhammadu Buhari has again taken a pot shot at the administrations before his, stressing that the extent of corruption at personal and institutional levels met by his administration was unbelievable. He stated that the practice was gradually turning into a culture before he came in and people started realising the truth.

The President, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, spoke while receiving the Letter of Credence of the United States, U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. William Symington, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“The corruption we met at personal and institutional levels was unbelievable. Corruption was turning into a culture. After we came in, people started realising the truth,” he said.

Buhari however noted that his administration's quest to reverse the “culture of corruption” in the country had received support from Nigerians, with many coming to terms with the depth of damage done by some previous administrations from the ongoing investigations and prosecutions.

He told the ambassador that his administration was still determined to continue investigations and prosecution of corrupt persons in the country, insisting that “Nigeria will either kill corruption or corruption will kill Nigeria in the long run”.

The President, who observed that the years of mishandling of the economy at a period of financial prosperity affected the economy, stated that this made it more challenging for the government to create employment for the youth and improve the livelihood of many Nigerians.

“It has not been easy for another party to come in and get things done properly, especially with the new economic reality of $37 per barrel of oil, against the $100 for the period, and there was no savings, no infrastructure on ground,” he said.

Buhari said the timely intervention of the United States, with a visit of the Secretary of State John Kerry to Nigeria, before the 2015 elections helped in ensuring peace and stability in the country.

He maintained that his administration remained committed to realising the key priorities of securing the country, fighting corruption, and salvaging the economy in spite of current challenges.

The President added that the security situation in the North East had improved significantly following support in training of the military and supply of hardware after the G-7 meeting in Germany in 2015.

In his remarks, the U.S ambassador said the interest in the well-being of Nigeria was of mutual benefit, adding that, ''We do it not only for Nigeria, but for ourselves. We did it because it was right for us and right for our people”.

Symington said he would work hard to further strengthen the relationship between his country and Nigeria, assuring that President-elect Donald Trump would also be interested in the well-being of Nigeria.