No Amount of Pressure Will distract me from Prosecuting Looters

Firstclass newsline gathered In an avowed commitment to the fight
against corruption, President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that no
amount of pressure will deter him from prosecuting those who have
looted the wealth of the nation.
His administration has come under severe pressure to soft pedal on the
fight against corruption, just as some critics have accused him of
being selective in the fight against corruption.
But yesterday, the president, in Abuja, told Nigerians that no amount
of pressure would make him give up the war against corruption in the
country.
He reiterated his resolve while addressing a group of Nigerians who
marched to the Presidential Villa to pledge their full support for his
administration's anti-corruption campaign.
He maintained that his administration would sustain a relentless
prosecution of the war against corruption, with due regard to the rule
of law.
The president said that all persons charged with the stealing of the
nation's resources would have their day in court and that, upon
conviction, their ill-gotten wealth would be seized and returned to
government coffers.
He said: "I believe it is time for Nigeria to change course. That is
why I sought election as president and got elected. As president, I am
determined that Nigeria must move away from a course of endemic
corruption that was leading us to perdition.
"There can be no question of our willfully allowing anyone to get away
with corruption. No matter the pressure and entreaties, the
anti-corruption war will continue and all accused persons will have
their day in court."
Welcoming the group — Nigerians March Against Corruption — Buhari, who
was represented by his Special Adviser (Media & Publicity), Mr. Femi
Adesina, also reaffirmed his commitment to curbing insecurity in the
country and boosting employment opportunities for Nigerians,
especially the youth.
He called for the continued support and solidarity of Nigerians as his
administration works to correct the wrongs of the past.
The Nigerians March Against Corruption group led by Aisha Yesufu had
condemned recent statements by some individuals against the
president's anti-corruption campaign.
The group assured the president that the vast majority of ordinary
Nigerians fully support his ongoing efforts to curb corruption and
urged him not to be deterred by the antics of those who did not share
his laudable vision of a fairer, more equitable, corruption-free and
progressive nation.
Meanwhile, President Buhari monday also directed the Ministries of
Industries, Trade and Investment, and Finance, as well as the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other relevant government agencies to evolve
before next year's budget, new policies to boost domestic
manufacturing.
The president added that he would gladly reverse or abandon some
inherited economic policies if doing so would lead to the creation of
more jobs for Nigerians.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and
Publicity said Buhari made the statement at a meeting in the
Presidential Villa with executive members of the Manufacturers
Association of Nigeria (MAN).
He said: "We are in difficult times economically, but we'll continue
to do our best for manufacturing to pick up. We must begin to behave
as if we have no oil at all.
"We will gladly have policy somersaults, if it will mean more jobs,
particularly for youths. I campaigned on three major planks. To
effectively secure our country, provide employment through revamping
the economy, and wage a relentless war against corruption. I intend to
keep faith with these promises."
He lamented that the textile industry that employed about 320,000
people in the past could only engage about 30,000 workers at present.
"It shows the carelessness of past governments, if almost 300,000
people lose their jobs in a single sector. We have a clear idea of how
we can stimulate employment and we will work very hard to do so," he
said.
The MAN President, Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs, had appealed for a review
of policies that stifled the manufacturing sector, noting that the
importance of a robust manufacturing sector for the general
well-being of the economy could not be over-emphasised.
Firstclassnewsline.net