— President Muhammadu Buhari says corruption is the worst threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

— President Muhammadu Buhari, disclosed that leaders of advanced democracies killed their urge for wealth acquisition and embraced service.

— President Muhammadu Buhari expressed sadness that the people’s dream to choose their leaders is frustrated by corrupt practices including buying of votes. 

President Muhammadu Buhari has disclosed that corruption is the worst threat to Nigeria’s democracy.

The President, who was represented by his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the opening ceremony of the maiden annual political summit in Abuja, said the job of nation building rests primarily on the political elite.

President Buhari disclosed that leaders of advanced democracies have succeeded in killing their urge for wealth acquisition and settled for service.

He charged participants at the summit to breed a moral elite that is prepared to make sacrifices and serve above self, noting that Nigeria is in dire need of leadership with ethical compass.

“Democracy cannot heal the terrible human defect if politicians demand and take bribe, steal the money meant to provide drugs for our hospitals, schools for our children and roads for all,” he said.

Buhari expressed sadness that the people’s dream to choose their leaders is also been frustrated by corrupt practices including buying of votes. He applauded the organisers, “Save Democracy Group Africa” for creating the platform for continued dialogue for political players across party lines.

Speaking also, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara, pledged the support of the National Assembly in the ongoing war against corruption. The leaders in their separate remarks also stressed the need for sacrifice across board.

“The days of business as usual are over. Reckless spending of government’s resources, expenditures not budgeted for, procurement abuses and diversion of public monies for personal gains must be eradicated. As part of our agenda, the National Assembly is strengthening her oversight systems to ensure procedural and output integrity. All public spending must be within the Appropriation Act. We can no longer afford waste,” Saraki said.

Meanwhile, President Buhari had earlier promised Nigerians that his administration would make corruption a thing of the past. He said if Nigeria does not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria. The President and his team have been crusaders of the ongoing anti-corruption fight against corrupt public officials, some of whom are already undergoing trial.

Senator Shehu Sani, representing Kaduna central zone has said that over $200 billion was being stashed away in the United Arab Emirates, UAE, by corrupt Nigerians. The APC senator said the funds are specifically in the UAE’s global financial hub, Dubai.