History Will Judge Buhari Harshly On Corruption – Kukah

• Blasts FG for romancing terrorists, bandits over  Nigeria’s sovereignty
• Obasanjo demands improved welfare, well-being of Nigerians

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah, says history will judge the administration of immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari harshly for superintending over massive corruption as never witnessed before in Nigeria’s 63 years of independence.

Insisting that Nigerians, unfortunately, experienced the worst type of corruption under the Buhari Presidency than any other government before him, Bishop Kukah lamented that the situation was made more unfortunate because the country now shares its sovereignty with criminal gangs of terrorists and bandits.

In a keynote presentation delivered at the 60th Call-to-Bar anniversary of Aare Afe Babalola in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on July 10, 2023, and titled; “The Future of Constitutional Democracy in Nigeria: Imperative of a New Constitutional Order”, the Catholic Priest said it was regrettable that despite its full-mouthed anti-graft posturing, Buhari’s tenure amplified corruption morally, financially and in other terms that all past administrations.

Though Bishop Kukah acknowledged that corruption did not start under the Buhari-led administration, he said; “We have seen the worst phase of corruption in Nigeria, Femi Falana, my friend here will speak about that because he has published a series of articles talking about what happened under the Buhari administration. They were not the ones who caused corruption, but I think in the last administration, we saw the ugliest phase of corruption whether in moral terms, financial terms, and other terms.”

The 71 years old Clergy is also full of regrets that Nigeria currently shares its constitutionally guaranteed sovereignty with terrorists, bandits, and other criminal elements, adding that no well-meaning Nigerian could be happy with the state of things, especially in a situation where the country is held hostage by those threatening the very existence of its democracy.

While also speaking to the challenge of many citizens seemingly losing faith in the nation’s judiciary, Bishop Kukah noted that the judiciary is only a victim the same way every other institution in Nigeria is suffering a crisis, even as he further said whatever happens at the Supreme Court concerning the 2023 presidential election, Nigerians would have to put their ugly past behind them.

The Catholic Bishop, who maintained that the time has come to rebuild the country, said; “Nigeria should not yet assume that it is a democracy but instead assume that it is matching towards democracy, which means rebuilding Nigeria after the kind of mess the last administration has left the country”.

Democracy must focus on welfare and well-being of Nigerians – Obasanjo

On his part, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who chaired the Anniversary celebration, said Nigeria’s brand of democracy does not deliver dividends to the people, stressing that democracy and good governance must lead to the welfare and well-being of the people, particularly the common people.

According to him; “In the American constitution, every person is born equal not every citizen, and they enjoy the constitutional right. But with us, the constitution is breached. We have no democracy that delivers the dividends of democracy. And if your democracy does not deliver, anything goes.”

Obasanjo, who saluted the legal luminary for his contributions to the development of his community, state, and country at large, said; “I believe that constitutionalism, democracy must be for the welfare and wellbeing of the people. Leadership at all levels requires certain things – character, understanding, knowledge, sacrifice and if these are not there, we are deceiving ourselves. All these must lead to welfare and prosperity.’’

The Anniversary celebration was attended by many dignitaries that included former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN); Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, members of the legal profession and the business community among others.

Born on 30th October 1929, Afe Babalola, who is the founder of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Ado-Ekiti, was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales on July 9, 1963. The 94-year-old legal luminary began his career in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, then western Nigeria, as a litigation lawyer at Olu Ayoola and Co Law firm. After two years of legal practice, he established his own law firm, Afe Babalola and Co. (Emmanuel Chambers) in 1965.

Married to Modupe Mercy Babalola, he is a fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) and was president of the Institute from 2017 to October 2021. During his four-year tenure, the retired Senior Lawyer and Educational administrator is credited with making significant contributions towards the growth of the Institute and the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) community.