You steal money in Nigeria and walk freely – Ndume

Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South in the National Assembly, has expressed his frustration with the rampant corruption in Nigeria.

Speaking during a media briefing in Kano on Sunday, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ndume lamented that corruption continues to thrive in the country because politicians who engage in theft are often celebrated rather than held accountable.

“Our major challenge in this country is corruption. Up till 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 to be God-fearing. Otherwise, it is only in Nigeria that you steal money and you walk freely and you are celebrated,” Ndume stated.

The senator further highlighted how individuals who acquire wealth illicitly are often revered within their communities.

“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; buys jets and his brothers would fly with him, his mother would fly with him, his uncle would fly with him, and they would say Allah has blessed our son,” he stated.

The senator also pointed out his past attempts to pass legislation targeting unexplained wealth in the country, which have been unsuccessful. He shared that even a former head of state refused to sign an executive bill that would address the issue.

“Up till now, there is no law on unexplained wealth Act in Nigeria and there is no Executive Order on it,” Ndume remarked.

In addition to his concerns about corruption, Ndume voiced worries over the issue of hunger in Nigeria. He urged the government and citizens to take advantage of the country’s vast arable land to cultivate more food crops.

“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,” the senator concluded.