Daily Corruption News: “We have in Nigeria in particular a system appreciated by Nigerians but no one else – an idea of dependence” on patronage and corruption. It has to be fought against in this country or we will not have progress.”- Former president Shehu Shagari at the ThisDay Awards in Abuja.
Bush and Blair honour Nigeria firms
Former US president George Bush and ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair have joined Nigeria’s elite at a ceremony honouring its political and business establishment, but one winner’s absence highlighted the endemic corruption and other problems plaguing the oil-rich nation.
Hosted by a Nigerian newspaper mogul Nduka Obaigbena, the ceremony included an award for former anti-corruption investigator Nuhu Ribadu, who investigated top ruling-party politicians.
But family members had to accept the award for Mr Ribadu, who left Nigeria for the US after being sacked from his job and targeted in a drive-by shooting.
Mr Ribadu once estimated corruption cost Nigeria – a nation where most people live on less than £1.30 a day – more than £245 billion since independence. Yet little has been done to stem that flow.
“We have in Nigeria in particular a system appreciated by Nigerians but no one else – an idea of dependence” on patronage and corruption, former president Shehu Shagari told those gathered at the ThisDay Awards in Abuja. “It has to be fought against in this country or we will not have progress.”
How to change that system is an open question in a country where some former military leaders remain active in politics.
Mr Bush sat alongside former dictator Muhammadu Buhari, a general who had government critics detained and passed laws allowing for indefinite detentions without trial. Former US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice briefly touched on the corruption plaguing Nigeria in her speech.
She called on Nigeria to hold honest and transparent presidential elections scheduled for 2011. However, some MPs have suggested moving the election up after vice president Goodluck Jonathan took over for President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is receiving medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Blair, Mr Bush and Ms Rice all met Mr Jonathan at different times over the weekend. After his meeting with Mr Bush, a statement by Mr Jonathan promised the coming elections “will be credible”.
At the Thisday “Nigeria at 50 Awarda”, former United States (US) President George Bush and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair warned the nation’s leaders against looting the treasury, describing such action as the least efficient way of doing things.
According to them, transparency, accountability and war against corruption are ingredients for good governance.
Bush said: ‘’Stealing public money is not good governance. When leaders steal from the people that is bad governance, they ought to be in jail.”
Blair said: “Corruption is wrong. It is the least efficient way of doing things, and it is important that the next election must be free and fair and nobody should try to interfere’’.
They said the interest of America and Britain in Nigeria during their tenure was spurred by poor indices of development, especially health, debt burden and capacity building.
Meanwhile police detained activist Shehu Sani of Civil Rights Congress in Nigeria and about 30 others peacefully protesting against Mr Blair and Mr Bush’s roles in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Mr Sani said the police held him for several hours before he posted bail on charges of incitement and creating a public disturbance.
Your Daily Corruption News team— Monday 22 February 2010
International: Arming both sides: the perils of ammunition leakage in the Afghan war
New York Times
International: Bush and Blair honour Nigeria firms
Press Association
International: David Miliband to put pressure on Israel over forged passports
The Times
China: China boosts auditors’ power as stimulus package spending prompts corruption concerns
Xinhua
East Timor: East Timor swears in new anti-graft boss
Agence France-Presse
Kenya: Kenya scandal splits political elite
BBC (TI mention)
South Africa: South Africa’s Zuma orders review of troubled state firms
Reuters
Ukraine: Tymoshenko withdraws fraud claim
Irish Times
USA: Putting new perspective on Illinois corruption
Chicago News Cooperative (opinion, TI mention)
Zambia: TIZ demands public explanation on expenses for Levy’s funeral
Post Zambia (TI mention)
Nigeria: Bush, Blair warn against looting treasury
The Nation
— News from the TI movement