Senator Ali Ndume has described corruption as a major challenge facing Nigeria, lamenting that individuals are often celebrated even when involved in illicit financial activities.
Ndume made this statement during an interactive session with journalists in Kano on Saturday, stressing the lack of effective laws to tackle corruption in the country.
The senator expressed frustration that in Nigeria, people are celebrated despite engaging in corrupt practices, often acquiring wealth overnight without accountability.
He stated, “Our major challenge in this country is corruption.Uptill now, we have no law that can proactively or reactively address the issue of corruption in the country.
“If you see somebody in our system, especially in politics or government,and he is not corrupt,then he is lucky that he is God-fearing.
“Otherwise,it is only in Nigeria that you steal money and you walk freely and you are celebrated.
“If you come into an area like this, people would start lobbying you and prostrate before you even when they know that the money was stolen.
“It is only in this country that somebody had no money yesterday or last week,but the following week he buys 10 cars; buy jets and his family will celebrate with him.”
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The lawmaker stressed that in other developed countries, people would ask how, when and where he made his money but the reverse is the case here.
“Up till now, there is no law on unexplained wealth Act in Nigeria and there is no Executive Order on it.
“There is hunger in the land and up till now we have not cultivated up to five per cent of our land, Nigeria is blessed with massive arable land,” Ndume added.
Ndume urged the government to take action on both corruption and food security to address these critical issues.
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