Your anti-corruption war is lopsided, church leaders tells Buhari 

Pray For His Quick Recovery 

The leadership of Church of the Brethren in Nigeria has expressed concern over the ongoing anti-corruption war by the President Muhammadu Buhari government, saying the fight against corruption is a welcome development, but that government is selective in prosecuting alleged suspects. 

President of the church in Nigeria, Rev. Joel S. Bill, who spoke at the end of this year’s annual ministers conference held at Kwarhi in Adamawa State yesterday, said it is shocking that all People Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains accused of corrupt practices have turned to angels after joining the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). 

“As a church, we support the anti-corruption crusade of the Federal Government, but the war against corruption should be executed within the ambit of the law.

“The perceived feeling across Nigeria is that the fight is selective and only PDP members are targeted, as there are also corrupt people among the APC and other political parties,” he stated. 

Bill argued that if the crusade is not rebranded, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would soon lose it aim as an agency for fighting corruption and be seen as a government tool for witch-hunting opposition party members in the country. 

He further urged the government to intensify efforts to ensure that the remaining Chibok girls are released, adding that this would confirm the claimed total defeat of Boko Haram in the northeast. 

“Now, it is over 1,000 days and majority of the Chibok schoolgirls are still nowhere to be found, despite promises by the Federal Government that negotiation was ongoing for their release.

“While we appreciate the effort that led to the release of 21 of them, we call, with a loud voice, that more efforts need to be made for the remaining to regain their freedom,” he maintained. 

Bill, who called on the Northeast Development Commission to speed up action in rebuilding the region, called on its leadership to pay serious attention to churches, homes, roads and other social amenities. 

To avoid a reoccurrence of the insurgency in the zone, he said: “The Federal Government and state governments should empower our youths and create job opportunities, as this will reduce youths restiveness, without which they will be willing tools in the hands of greedy politicians to be used as political thugs.”

He also called on government to direct the agencies in charged of IDPs to speed up actions to ensure that the remaining 26,000 of them in Minawawo, Cameroun are returned home soon. 

He commended Governor Muhammad Umar Bindow for his efforts in providing temporary shelters for IDPs in the state capital, but cautioned against any decision to close the IDPs camp.