Senator Ali Ndume, representing Borno South senatorial district, expressed his concern about the rampant corruption in Nigerian society, stating that politicians are now applauded for their theft of public funds.
He said that Nigerians really admire and praise those who flaunt their wealth, even if it’s obtained illegally, unlike in developed countries where people question the source of someone’s riches.
“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 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 (genuflecting) 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,”
“Up till now, there is no law on Unexplained Wealth Act in Nigeria and there is no Executive Order on Unexplained Wealth in Nigeria,”
He ended…
“There is hunger in the land and up till now we have not cultivated up to five per cent of our land… blessed land in Nigeria,”.