Corrupt Men Are Walking Free In Nigeria; Says Jerry Rawlings

Former President and the man who cleansed Ghana of corruption, Jerry Rawlings, had said if Nigeria must get things right and development the country, corrupt politicians must not be allowed to go scot-free as is presently the case in the so-called giant of Africa.

Condemning Nigerian leaders for sending petty thieves to Prison for a several years while big political thieves are seen as untouchables, Rawlings said:

“We live in countries where poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years, while businessmen who evade taxes in millions of dollars or politician who misappropriates millions of state funds escape punishment.

“These inequalities are recipes for the retrogression of our democracies and we cannot allow the negative tide to continue. A democracy that cannot provide socio-economic justice cannot be a healthy democracy and will remain vulnerable and fragile.”

According to Rawlings, Nigeria must stop paying lip service to eradicating corruption.

Rawlins spoke at a conference on Emerging Democracies in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, organized by the National Institute for Legislative Studies, Abuja, on Monday.