Presidency replies claims that corruption is responsible for insecurity.

The Presidency has described a statement by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, that President Goodluck Jonathan’s tolerance for corruption is partially responsible for insecurity in the country as unsubstantiated and frivolous.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, said this in an interview on Thursday.

Abati said Odigie-Oyegun’s statement only confirmed the Presidency’s position that the opposition party always plays politics with everything.

He said, “We have always made a point that the APC is and has been playing politics with everything. He is talking about corruption being responsible for terrorism and insurgency, that does not sound like an educated position.

“Is it corruption that is also responsible for terrorism in Syria, Afghanistan and Columbia? He is using a serious national challenge of terrorism to play politics, it is very cheap.”

“The security forces are doing their best to put an end to terrorism and insurgency and nobody can doubt the fact that President Jonathan has shown great determination in combating the terrorists and ensuring the protection of lives and property.”

“The APC chairman sounded in his statement as if he does not live in Nigeria, so he found it difficult to appreciate the efforts that are being put into the terrorism war.”

Abati argued that those who were quick to accuse the present administration of condoning corruption were really the most corrupt Nigerians.

“Most of those who comment about corruption are probably the most corrupt in this country. Should we ask him to do an assessment of the states that are run by the APC because it is not enough to just talk about body language and make some kind of spurious allegations.

“He wants to turn the issue of corruption into a campaign issue. He wants to use it to malign the integrity of the Presidency and the government.

On the Transparency International index, Abati said the truth was that the latest report recognised an improvement in the corruption fight.

“The last Transparency International index showed an improvement in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. You may say that the quantum of the improvement is small but it has been noticed even by TI that something is being done to deal with the issue,” he said.

Source: Punch