A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, yesterday expressed concern over the act of granting state pardon to convicted political office-holders.
El-Rufai, while delivering a lecture on the topic “Corruption, and the Challenge of Good Governance”, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), said such act of pardon would encourage corruption.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised by “The Companion”, an association of Muslim men in business.
El-Rufai said giving state pardon to convicted political office-holders would encourage many corrupt Nigerians.
He said it would also particularly give the youths the impression that corruption was something good and which people should get involved in.
“Pardoning convicted corrupt persons in Nigeria is sending a wrong message to the young ones”, the former FCT minister said.
El-Rufai said the nation was undergoing an interesting time, particularly with the insecurity situation in the northern part of the country.
He however said every concerned citizen should push for a society that is good for all.
The former minister pointed out that the insecurity situation in Nigeria was as a result of the failure of intelligence agencies which were also affected by corruption.
El-Rufai said corruption would always affect good governance when it was not checked, saying it had already affected basic societal necessities, such as electricity, infrastructure, water and security, among others.
He said the root of corruption should be tackled, by improving the welfare package for members of the police force, a good wage for public servants, and punishment for corrupt persons. (NAN)
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