Posted by From Chuks Okocha in Abuja, 04.08.2005 on
President Olusegun Oba-sanjo yesterday declared what amounted to a 'red alert' to his ministers and other top government officials on the administration's battle against corruption as he said he has "zero tolerance" for the scourge.
* Warns ministers to 'get caught, be fired and tried'
President Olusegun Oba-sanjo yesterday declared what amounted to a 'red alert' to his ministers and other top government officials on the administration's battle against corruption as he said he has "zero tolerance" for the scourge.
Speaking at the launching and handing over of helicopters and special motorcycles to the Nigeria Police in Abuja, Obasanjo said, "I have a zero tolerance for corruption and I will not accept corrupt practices any longer."
According to the President, "henceforth any minister or government official caught engaging in corrupt practices would not only be dismissed from office but would be made to face the full wrath of the law at the court."
He also used the ocasion to warn members of the Police High Command to be at alert in fishing out those he described as the bad eggs within the force.
The President said the on-going crusade against corruption is total as no one would be spared if caught. He urged the Police High Command to flush out all those that are corrupt.
"The war against corruption is total and we are not going to spare anybody no matter how highly placed," he said.
He expressed dismay and disappointment at the unsatisfactory reports reaching him on the police force and vowed to go the extra length to restore diginity and sanity in the Force.
On the launching and handover of the special motorcycles and helicopters to the police,Obasanjo said the equiptment were acquired to enhance the operational efficiency of the Police Force.
Obasanjo stated that the helicopters would be deployed in search and rescue mission while the motorcycles would assist the police to penetrate pathways and other difficiult terrain.
In the last one-month when the President has pursued the anti-corruption battle with vigour, two ministers, - that of Education and Housing, Prof. Fabian Osuji and Mrs. Mobolaji Osomo, have been fired while Senate President Adolphus Wabara has been forced to resign.
Osuji and Wabara were indicted in the N55 million bribe-for-budget scandal while Osomo was removed for not following due process in the sale of Federal Government houses in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Also, the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, was last Monday arraigned in a Federal High Court, Abuja on a 70-count charge of money laundering and stealing.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Police Affairs, Chief Broadrick Bozimo, advised that the maintenance of the equipment should be given priority.
He said that plans are under way to embark on regular foreign training of policemen in order to enhance their operational performances.
Earlier, the occassion was nearly marred by an accidental discharge of bullets from the rifle of one of the policemen on guard duties. A lady hawker at the Eagle Square Venue of the launching was nearly killed.
Eye witness account said the lady whose name was not immediately known was badly wounded and was immediatley rushed to the hospital for medical care.
The scene of the shooting was immediately cordoned off by stern looking policemen on the order of senior police officers.
Over 1,000 specialised motor-cycles and two helicopters were handed over to the police at the ceremony.