The Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, on Monday vowed to make startling revelations that will shake the country after the 2015 general election.
Akiolu’s outburst at the public presentation of a book: “Corruption and Human Rights Law in Africa,” authored by Dr. Kolawole Olaniyan was in response to a statement credited to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, that only two out of the country’s renowned monarchs are free of corruption.
Akiolu said he would reveal top secrets that cannot be disputed by those who think their hands are clean, but refused to give further details when approached after the event.
He lambasted the monarch who alleged that he lifted oil and collected contract during the late Gen. Sani Abacha regime, noting that he was a serving policeman in that era.
On the issue of corruption, Akiolu said over 90 percent of Nigerians are corrupt, adding that the way out was for all hands to be on deck.
“I will shake this nation after the election in February. The man who made the statement that I lifted oil should cover his face in shame because I was still a serving police officer. Those who collected Abacha money know themselves and I will quote witnesses.
“Let us stop apportioning blames, forget the past and work towards a better future for this country.
“Do not put 100 percent blame on President Goodluck Jonathan because the person who caused the problem knows himself,” said Akiolu.
Continuing, the monarch reassured that elections cannot be rigged in Lagos, adding that Lagosians were fully prepared to ensure that their votes and good governance count.
“Nigeria’s problem is not caused by one person. We should be closer to God and make things better. We must assist the government to end the challenges of insurgency and Ebola,” he said.
Meanwhile, chairman of the occasion, Femi Falana (SAN) and All Progressives Congress’ (APC) spokesman, Lai Mohammed, accused President Jonathan of fuelling corruption by romancing his appointees accused of corrupt practices.
Falana while acknowledging that the present administration has recorded a milestone in recovering over $2.9 billion of Abacha’s loots, noted that the government was yet to account for the whereabouts of the funds.
Commending the author for a great job, Falana said corruption has crept into all facets of national life, noting that the government has not treated the issue of Ebola or insurgency in accordance with the law.
“The author looked at the issues of corruption and human rights in Africa and wonderfully linked them. Human rights are not respected because of massive corruption on the continent.
“The government is not addressing the Ebola crisis under the law. There is a Quarantine Act enacted in 1926, which says carriers of dreadful diseases should be fished out and quarantined.
“But at the moment, we do not know how many people are affected in the country.
“Also, Boko Haram is being fought in a corrupt way. All dead soldiers’ names are unknown, immediately a soldier dies, his family is ejected from the barracks within two weeks.
“Jonathan’s administration has killed the good works against corruption. It is only the Abacha family that has been harassed of all those accused of corruption and it is because he is no longer alive.
“No country has succeeded in receiving loot like Nigeria. We have done well in tracing the over 140 Abacha bank accounts across the world and we have recovered $2.9 billion although we cannot trace the recovered money,” said Falana
Source: The Nation Newspaper
