Corruption: We’ll prosecute indicted persons, says FG

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NIGERIA: FOR the umpteenth time, the Federal Government says there is no going back in the prosecution of anyone indicted in the ongoing probes in the country.

And all those involved in corruption activities will be made to face the music, the government added.

The President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration’s resolve to stamp out corruption in the country came just as the government assured Nigerians that it would promptly begin the implementation of the 2016 budget once it is passed into law by the federal parliament.

The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, made these known in Ogun State while inaugurating the Ota township roads in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government and the Ayetoro township roads in Yewa North Local Government.

The commissioning was part of the activities lined up by the government of Senator Ibikunle Amosun to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Gateway State.

The Vice President, who represented Buhari – who traveled to France on Tuesday after a two-day visit to commission series of projects in the state – said that corruption which had not only ravaged the country, but hampered governments at all levels in their efforts to provide the necessary infrastructure for the teeming masses.
Osinbajo, an indigene of the state from Ikenne who spoke in Yoruba, stressed that the country would have gotten enough fund to put in place the needed infrastructure and easily helped the citizens.

But, according to him, the huge level of corruption that has bedeviled the nation’s economy had hampered governments’ efforts in this direction.
“The development of our country should be of utmost importance to all of us,” Osinbajo said.  “We should continue to proclaim it loud that corruption should not be tolerated.”

He added: “We have to keep saying it everywhere that no corrupt person would go scot-free. Whoever is involved and whatever his status is, he must answer for such wrongs done. We have to keep proclaiming that everywhere.”
The Vice President further stressed:  “The Federal Government wants to do more for Nigerians, especially in the area of micro-finance and micro-credit schemes, but corruption has been the bane of our development.”

“We need money and funds to do all these things,” Osinbajo added, just as he assured fellow citizens that the present administration would begin full implementation of its campaign promises immediately the 2016 budget is passed into law by the National Assembly.
Osinbajo said that ‎the government had made provisions for the jobless youths, artisans, market men and women in the current budget.

While emphasizing that employment and job creation for the youths remained the cornerstone of the present administration, the Vice President maintained that the Federal Government would train 500,000 volunteer teachers to enhance the education sector.
He said: “Our administration will fulfill its campaign promises with massive employment generation as the cornerstone.

“These promises would commence as soon as the 2016 budget is passed into law. We will train 500,000 volunteer teachers to boost the nation’s educational system.”
He further said: “We also have plans for our women, youths and artisans.  Government will establish skill acquisition training for graduates to equip them for gainful employment while market women will be given soft loans to boost their businesses.”

He sought the people of the state’s support for Amosun administration in his efforts to develop the state.

Osinbajo urged Amosun administration to ensure even development of all parts of the state.
Amosun had earlier said that his administration would rehabilitate the Federal Government roads in the state in order to ensure all round development.
He said: “Our government will not relent in its rebuilding mission by extending its all-round development to all federal roads in the state, as well as fixing all dilapidated roads.”
He urged the people to remain calm and resilient, while assuring that all uncompleted projects would be completed.
“What we are doing today is a celebration of our own,” Amosun said, adding: “The Vice President is from Ogun West, his mother side. It is true that we cannot finish everything at once, government will fix all the roads one by one and we will do them.”

• By Temitope Odupitan