Ohanaeze youth ask Buhari to go after more ‘untouchables’

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has described Nigeria’s ranking by Transparency International as a blessing in disguise.

TI ranked Nigeria as 146 out of 180 countries in its corruption perception index, scoring the country 26 out of 100 points.

Reacting to the ranking, the group asked President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute public office holders who are perceived as “untouchables”.

This move, it said, would help reduce the negative corruption evaluation given by TI.

In a statement by Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Okwu Nnabuike, its president-general and secretary-general respectively, the group said though TI’s ranking is not the true reflection of the situation, the presidency should step-up its anti-graft war without being perceived as selective.

“We view the recent poor ranking of Nigeria in the corruption index by Transparency International with mixed feelings,” the statement read.

“Nigeria scored 26 out of 100 points according to Auwal Rafsanjani, the Head of Transparency International Nigeria, but the OYC describes the perception reports credited to Transparency International as biased verdict and not the true reflection of what is on the ground.

“We insist that there are more gains in the fight against corruption, but Nigerians should accept the indictment by Transparency International as it is a blessing in disguise.

‘The Presidency should advance to the next level of the anti-corruption war, without perceived being selective as a way to prove that the reports were not a true reflection of what is on the ground.

“The Federal Government should review their tactics in the fight against corruption by prosecuting and securing jail for those untouchables and overrated sacred cows whose pending cases had lasted more than a decade in various courts or swept under the carpet.

“There should be accelerated hearings and judgment on those cases involving most former governors, ministers, senators, and others.”