The federal government yesterday expressed disappointment at the public attitude towards the ongoing anti-graft war, lamenting that the people had not been angry enough about the scale of corruption perpetrated under different administrations in the past decades.

Aside, the federal government denied claims by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been using the anti-graft agencies to witch-hunt its members.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, lamented poor support for Buhari’s anti-corruption war among the masses at Lagos House, Ikeja, after a meeting with the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, and other members of the State Executive Council.

At a session with journalists, the minister explained that the emphasis of the Buhari administration “is not just to talk about figure of how much has been embezzled. Even the figures are dizzy enough.”

Mohammed said the federal government was bothered about the public attitude towards the war against corruption, citing the fact that Nigerians “are not angry enough about the scale of corruption.”
The minister cited how the anti-graft agencies recovered N381million from the bank account of the wife of a former service chief, which he said was reported in some national dailies on Sunday.

He also referred to the case of Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, Col. Ojogbane Adegbe, who admitted that he collected N10 billion for the purpose of the PDP campaign and delivered the same to Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs.

Despite all these revelations, Mohammed lamented that it “is surprising that Nigerians have shown no anger about it. This is quite troubling. What borders us is that Nigerians are not angry enough about corruption.”
The minister therefore pointed out that the story “is not the same in other countries. In other climes, you will see people talking about it or doing something about it. We must understand that until we kill corruption, we are not going to make any headway.”

He debunked the claims of the PDP that the Buhari administration was hunting public officials who served in the Jonathan administration; neither was it out to vilify any person.

Mohammed explained the emphasis of the federal government, which he said, was designed to make the people know the cost of corruption on public life and national development.

He explained that the federal government “wants Nigerians to know what we are suffering as a result of corruption. When we had a news conference in January and disclosed that 55 people stole, N1.343 trillion between 2006 and 2013, what we wanted to emphasise was what one-third of the money would have done to Nigeria.”

The minister disclosed that the federal government used the World Bank benchmark “to measure what the money can be used for. We said the money would be able to redevelop Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“It will be able to give us one ultra-modern hospital in each state of the federation. In addition, that money would have given 20,000 units of two-bedroom flat. The remaining will still take care 3,954 students from primary schools to tertiary level. In addition, it will build 183 state-of-the-art

schools.

“So, what we are trying to make Nigerians understand is that corruption is eating deep, not just into the fabrics of our morals, but it is preventing development. It is the reason 40 per cent of our children will live up to five years. We lose 40 percent of our infants before they are five years old.
“It is because of corruption. It is because of corruption we are in darkness all the time. It is because of corruption we needlessly lose lives to road accidents today,” the minister said.

At the meeting he had with the minister, Ambode vowed to transform the National Museum in Lagos to a modern-day cultural edifice which would be of international standard and equally pledged to partner the federal government to give facelift to federal infrastructure in the state.
The governor noted that he would collaborate with the federal government “to ensure the speedy completion of the project which he said will enhance the cultural heritage of Nigeria.

He said considering the strategic importance of culture and tourism to the identity of people, there was no better time for Lagos and the federal government to collaborate in driving the essence of culture with the view to improving on the situation on ground and thereby improve on the economy and develop the nation.

He said Onikan, where the museum is located, is a melting port of the cultural heritage of Lagos and Nigeria by extension, hence, serious efforts must be put in place to start to recreate the monument to adequately situate the history of the country.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/02/26/fg-laments-poor-public-support-for-anti-graft-war/

That is what happens to a sectional government

Why is this government always blaming everyone for their failures?

When they were doing selective trial and conviction nko?

While majority of their own party members are even bigger and greedier thieves and gbewiri.

So, it's now our fault abi?

Burukutu and Mushin weed-induced minds at the helm of affairs..

You called it Anti graft war...nd people don't fight war with empty stomach.

People are hungry....everything you accused GET of you have not changed.

You still maintain same number of presidential fleets.
Your villa budget is at all time high just for food.

I bought fuel 140 naira after 5 hours yet you are minister for petroleum

You intend to pay rent In a house we built for you...
People are not fools oga. Your acceptance is weigning out by the day

I guess is because people want to see results like convictions

It's like liar Mohammed don't understand what is going on in this country, fighting corruption is okay but there is too much hardship, Nigerians are suffering, we need economic policy that can put food on our table

in the scale of preference of government priorities of importance to Nigerians, it is economy first I.e. employment, electricity, infrastructure, social services, job opportunities, wealth creation, etc. then every other thing follows.

The government should know that when it refocuses its priorities to match that SOP, then it will have the people's massive support. I don't know why this government hasn't recognised this fact.

Somebody tell mohammed that Nigerians are not really convinced.

Prove the cases against them and lock them up with harsh sentences and see how fast our support would swell for your efforts! For now it just seems to be a lot of noisemaking going on as regards this governments fight against corruption!

From all d inputs above mine it appears most Nigerians are actually more intelligent than I had hitherto thought. Mr Lai has just justified dt d reason d govt do more of media propaganda trials of those accused of corruption is actually to set them up (the accused) against us (the people). Truth is d people see corruption fight as a means to an end whereas d govt thinks their anti corruption drama is an end in itself. People expect dat by fighting corruption that their lives will be bettered, economy improved, infrastructure built, employment created and quality cum quantity of life increased thru watertight security but alas d reverse is what they are getting. When most of us here were shouting dat d President shot himself on d foot by appointing d same corrupt elements into his cabinet after 6mnths and only arresting corrupt opposition members; we were termed wailers and dat body language will wipe them into line. U mentioned 55 people stealing trillions but refused to divulge their names probably cos its a lie or some names on d list are pro-govt. I pray d whole frustration do not get out of d hand cos d honeymoon is over. I want d fight to succeed but we expect convictions, we expect an all-inclusive/ non-selective approach, we expect it to be done devoid of impunity and within d rule of law. On a personal note, Mr Lai tell d Govt dat life is more spiritual than physical as d former controls d later. D fight d govt took against Nnamdi Kalu and joining his case alongside those on corruption is making d spiritual hemisphere angry and ever since the center can not hold. Remember dat Mr Wole Soyinka had once declared dat By*fra is a spirit and can not be defeated. Something tells me dat even d Yoruba/Hausa-Fulani trouble drew its root from this too. Wedding is over, honeymoon over but let's pray the marriage can be managed but for how long?. Time will tell.

People generally don't support things without head. This so called anti graft war by the APC administration is a headless chicken. Proof is on ground

When you arrest Amaechi, Fayemi, Fashola, Tinubu, Atiku, Obasanjo, Buhari and other APC thieves, investigate them, jail them for stealing Nigeria blind, then we would support your "corrupt" fight against corruption! For now, you are On Your Own "OYO". Nigerians are wiser than this, tell your stories to your Zombies.

People are hungry and suffering and you telling them you fighting corruption? You can not expect them to support you with the height of suffering and empty stomach. Fight corruption and provide food for ordinary Nigerians to eat , then you will have 1% of our support.

Lai Mohammed, PDP shared Nigerian money for campaign, so you told us. At least we know that PDP shared the money they looted from the treasury and some got to ordinary Nigerians. Where did APC source their campaign money from? Which institution funded APC campaign or is it the money Buhari borrowed from Union bank that you used for your campaign, if not corruption?

People are suffering and you are here blabbing about fighting corruption. No light, no fuel, no water as we cannot power our own borehole, nobody is even asking about salaries now as there are no jobs and you are talking about corruption. Go and rest jooor!!! Useless and confused government. When the masses start hauling stones on you, you would be awake to reality! Nigerians are not smiling if you must know

So we should start clapping and dancing azonto on an empty stomach because u are fighting corruption eeh!. If u ar serious in fighting kworoshion why not start from ur party and see if nigerians can support u

Cc: lalasticlala

you want us to be suffering and smiling at the same time Mr lie? people complaining of hardship everywhere and at the same time seeing APC politicians like kwankwaso flying private jet yet you want us to be happy and believe you are fighting corruption. lf it was Gej that flew that jet l know many Nigerians will be calling for his head now.

finally just tell buhari to look beside him and fight those corrupt elements around him,by doing this we can then take him and his anti craft war serious

The level of corruption in this buhari regime is the biggest heist in the history of the black race. A scan through the Nigerian 2016 budget will send one into coma in record time.

Their gameplan is to distract the nation with selected media trials. Thank Allah the people are waking up but the rate is a little more disappointing cos Nigerians should be on the streets by now reclaiming their Banana Republic.

capitalism will kill democracy unless we speak up. yes, even corruption will speak-up and put up a fight but good will prevail over evil.

well, patriotic and well meaning Nigerians are solidly behind the fg. may God see us through

What does he mean by angry enough, doesn't he read blogs where PDP and all its members are called all sorts of names daily. Or is he asking people to take things into their hands and 'act' by lynching anybody the news papers accuse of one crime or the other when the courts have not convicted them. They are accusing everybody of being against their fight from the judiciary, to the legislators, to now the common man. EFCC or DSS should do their job get proper evidence and prosecute the case and win. All this a pealing to sentiments will not wash.

Which right thinking Nigerian will give a damn about this Godforsaken government that has a chronic propagandist as mouthpiece,grossly riddled with corrupt elements,insensitive to the fundamental need of its citizenry & putting up the most corrupt budget in history? Well it's not unusual as the people have not seen anything encouraging to give government the needed support. Just imagine the president's response to issues of national importance.

The people ll not support you cos it's selective, many in your govt re well known corrupt politicians. Some were made ministers; while you choose to witch hunt the opposition.
To worsen matter we ve not seen anybody convicted of corruption since you started this your war.
You blame the Judiciary, the lawyers, opposition and now the masses.
Seems you re confused.
#Wearetiredofblames.