How corruption And Ineffective Leadership Triggered Harsh Economic crisis in Nigeria

“Nigeria would have witnessed a ferocious economic disaster if Buhari administration had not emerged. All that is going on now is the rebuilding process of the economy that was so destroyed by the previous administration.”

“Given the unrestrained stealing and the enormous economic pillage under the Jonathan administration, it is not surprise that the Nigerian economy is lying prostrate. The present administration needs time to fill in the big holes that were left by the previous administration.

Corruption is fighting back in Nigeria to frustrate Buhari’s anti-corruption war, “those fighting back are corrupt Nigerians with huge war chest at their disposal.”

 “Those praying for the return of Jonathan should thank God for not answering their prayers because it would have been a terrible nightmare.”

Former President Goodluck Jonathan, had in one of his interactions with the press, stated that, “stealing is not corruption.” He later explained his statement above thus, ‘What was perceived as corruption were mere cases of petty stealing by government officials.” 

Nigerians have been groaning over the recent hardship allegedly imposed on them by the Buhari administration. They claimed the President has not done anything to elevate the suffering of Nigerians, and no credible foundations of administration that would change Nigeria. These and many more allegations and criticism against the President, undoubtedly, the citizens facing hard times, but there’s no justification in leveling such allegations against him, despite inheriting a 16 years national burden laid by pass administrations.

 Is President Buhari responsible for massive corruption in NNPC on crude-for-product swap deal, defence sector in connection to money laundering, diversion of public funds and contract scams, using war against Boko haram in the North east? Can anyone blame Buhari for hoarding petroleum products in an attempt to hike the price?  

The Aftermath of former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan’s ineffective leadership has impacted negatively on Nigeria’s democratic stability and her economic development.  

Nigeria's economy is currently in a volatile situation due to the crash in oil prices, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

Declining price of crude oil in the global market, the country which depends largely on crude is currently experiencing cash crunch because of the alleged massive embezzlement that was uncovered in the immediate past administration as well as the sudden fall in oil prices.

Transparency and implementation of law and order in any society should be established and maintained by the elite and leaders. Where mischievous people were given the privilege to serve people, indulgent in lawlessness and corrupt practices cannot be rule out.

CHAIRMAN residential Advisory Committee on war against corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), declared that Nigeria would have completely collapsed and disintegrated like Zimbabwe and had former President Goodluck Jonathan won the 2015 presidential election, The Sun News reported.

The lawyer while expressing his disappointment at the level of corruption that took place during administration of Jonathan, said by now, the country would have been under the yoke of ferocious economic disaster if the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had not emerged.

He made the declaration in Abuja at the anti-corruption summit organized by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) in conjunction with ONE Africa to brainstorm on issues ahead of the May 12 global anti-corruption summit in London.

Prof. Sagay, who lamented that corruption is fighting back in Nigeria to frustrate Buhari’s anti corruption war disclosed that “those fighting back are corrupt Nigerians with huge war chest at their disposal.”

He said the painful aspect of it was that those fighting back are using looted funds to engage large number of senior lawyers to frustrate cases in court.

But, he lauded the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (2015) which he said have taken care of unnecessary delays in the prosecution of criminal matters.

The professor of law disclosed that huge sums of money belonging to the country and earmarked for the procurement of arms to fight the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East was looted under the administration of former president Jonathan.

He appealed to Nigerians to be patient with Buhari’s administration so that it can deliver on its promises.

Professor Sagay said: “Given the unrestrained stealing and the enormous economic pillage under the Jonathan administration, it is not surprise that the Nigerian economy is lying prostrate. The present administration needs time to fill in the big holes that were left by the previous administration.

 “It is, therefore, irrational for anybody with perverse mentality to say that they should bring back corruption. The truth is, if Jonathan had won the 2015 election, by now, Nigeria would have completely become a failed state like Zimbabwe with huge inflation rate of N10 billion, or probably all of us would have carried our little belongings to seek refuge in neighbouring countries.

“Nigeria would have witnessed a ferocious economic disaster if Buhari administration had not emerged. All that is going on now is the rebuilding process of the economy that was so destroyed by the previous administration. Those praying for the return of Jonathan should thank God for not answering their prayers because it would have been a terrible nightmare.

“We must be patient and rational in our thinking for the inevitable change of the Buhari administration to come. It will surely come, but it is not a magic wand.”

In another report which was made available by PM News,the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, has blamed former president Goodluck Jonathan-led government for the present economic crunch bedeviling the country.

The Emir, who spoke this in Kano state while playing host to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday, April 9, 2016, said the current hardship faced by Nigerians emanated from the way and manner the Jonathan-led government handled the affairs of the country. Sanusi, who is a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to seek lasting solution to the economic crisis in the nation.

The traditional ruler also advised government to boosts efforts in enlightening Nigerians on the nation’s economic situation. According to him, the emirate council would do same and pleaded with Nigerians to bear with the situation, promising that the hardship would soon be overcome. Osinbajo, who was on a working visit to Kano state, in his response reiterated that the Buhari-led government was dedicated to transforming the living standard of Nigerians, assuring that the federal government was doing everything possible to overcome the economic challenges.

The current administration is seriously fighting corruption and has continued to assure Nigerians that things will get better. Though the money so far recovered from corrupt politicians and public office holders have not been put into use, some Nigerians are optimistic that the funds can go a long way to alleviate the plight of the citizens especially with the current unstable status of the naira against the dollar. President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has continued to ask Nigerians for patience while the economy bites harder on the ordinary citizens especially the teeming unemployed youths.

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