IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS OF INTENSIVE CORRUPTION UNDER BUHARI ALSO!

ZION B-BC NEWSLETTER.

(Looking at Nigeria's Political System From a Godly Perspective)
A Publication of the Zion Faith Bible-Believing Church Kpeyegyi Abuja Nigeria {Vol. 10.NO 390. 31st January, 2021.} “…ONLY The Truth, Will Set You Free! (John.8:32). . PRAY & FAST EVERY WEDNESDAY TO STOP BLOODSHED IN NIGERIA!

IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS OF INTENSIVE CORRUPTION UNDER BUHARI ALSO!

Nigeria’s score of only 25 per cent in the 2020 Transparency International [TI], Corruption Perception Index ranking did not come as surprise to socio-economic critics, political watchers and patriotic citizens at home and the Diaspora because they all saw it coming is spite of President Buhari’s braggadocio in 2015, that he would flush out the parasitic national malaise in no time!
There had been a gradual decline in the nation’s corruption ranking from early independence and long before TI was founded in May 1993; because a military junta overthrew the democratic government in a January 1966 bloody coup for the criminal offences of “corruption, aggrandizement, tribalism, nepotism, etc, etc, took over in successive coups, perpetrated worse forms of institutional corruption, and kept the citizens in abject poverty when they eventually exited following General Sanni Abacha’s demise in 1998! The late General looted the entire treasury and relocated Nigeria’s financial assets into his innumerable overseas bank accounts in spite of the fact that he was custodian of the common patrimony on behalf of the Citizens!

The Corruption Perceptions Index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be. A country or territories score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). Denmark and New Zealand top the index chart with 88 points. Syria, Somalia and South Sudan came last with 14, 12, and 12 points respectively.
Nigeria scored 26 points out of 100 on the 2019 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by TI but between 1996 & 2019, the nation’s scores hovered between 26 – 27, while the ratings were between 144 and 146 out of 180 countries!
In 2020, Nigeria scored 25 points which is less than 26 of the previous year and ranked 149th position out of 180 countries!
2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), has revealed that even the top 25countries have their share of corruption challenges and the Covid-19 pandemic year has again shown that no country is immune from corruption! Even, the Americas showcase corruption and the mismanagement of funds in one of the regions most affected by the Covid-19 crisis!
TI stated that not only does corruption undermine the global health response to Coviod-19, but it also contributes to a continuing crisis of democracy adding that more than two thirds of countries scored below 50 in 2019, with an average score of just 43! The data shows that despite some progress, most countries still fail to tackle corruption effectively!
In the final analysis, 2020 CPI revealed that wide spread corruption had weakened Covid-19 response and threatened global recovery and whereas, countries that performed well on the index invest more in health care and were better able to provide universal health coverage and were less likely to violate democratic norms and institutions or the rule of law!

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REBUTS AND REJECTS TI’s REPORT!

It is an open secret that Nigeria had never invested heavily in the Health Sector in 60 years as an independent nation!  To an official population of about 250 million citizens, current statistics show that there are 33,303 General Hospitals; 20,278 Primary Health Centres and Posts plus 59 Teaching Hospitals and Federal Medical Centres – a ratio of 450,324 citizens to ONE health facility!
AND apart from the fact that there were only 50 Covid-19 Pandemic Testing Centres across Nigeria’s Federal Health Institutions up to November 2019, and also limited structures for Isolation of infected persons in the midst of the tragic effects of the parasitic infections, food palliatives meant to succor indigent citizens BUT were corruptly locked up in concealed Warehouses in most States, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), were exposed and looted by rioters who hijacked the #EndSars #End Police Brutality, Protests in October 2019!
Some state governors who were caught up in the despicable act and castigated on the social media, shamelessly said that they “preserved those food palliatives for distribution during an anticipated SECOND WAVE of the covid-19 Pandemic”!
There were also allegations that the Front Line Health Workers [inclusive of medical doctors, nurses, auxiliary staff, the health technicians/engineers, who take care of medical equipments and facilities], were continuously deprived of their regular financial allowances in spite of the fact they were daily exposed to infections through many of them had died!
How much did Nigeria invest to combat Covid-19 Pandemic – both at the national and states levels? In April 2020, Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed disclosed that a Crisis Intervention Fund of N500 billion naira [US$ 1.39 billion], to sourced “as loans from various special government accounts plus grants and loans from multilateral institutions”, would be created and utilized to upgrade health care facilities. During the same period, Nigeria was to befit from IMF US$ 50 billion emergency financing facilities for 80 countries including 20 from Africa!
The World Bank also approved a US$ 14 billionCovid-19 response package, which Nigeria hoped to benefit from as well! In addition, the Central Bank also launched a drive to raise N 120 billion naira from private sector to source equipment and infrastructure to fight the pandemic!
AND in spite of the above facts and numerous other acts of INSTITUTIONAL CORRUPTION during the on-going pandemic, the Federal Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed, had the effrontery and audacity to make the following statements to castigate the TI’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI), as follows: *That the perception did not truly reflect the great strides by Nigeria in its fight against corruption. *That there were missing assessments that should affect the overall rating.
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation also commented, that “the report do not corroborate the facts on ground …. In terms of the fight against corruption, we have done more and we will continue to do more out of inherent conviction and desire on our part to fight against corruption devoid of any extraneous considerations relating to the rating by Transparency International.”

CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS DURING OBJ's TENURE!

The following allegations which have not been denied, trailed OBJ throughout his eight-year tenure of presidency as follows: * That he had only N20.000 (twenty thousand naira), in his bank account on release from prison in 1998 - but in those two terms in office it was very easy for him to become a multi-billionaire! * That he corrupted himself through NNPC and PTDF, as the substantive Minister of Petroleum Resources, and through the Shipping, Communications/Industrial Sectors - especially NPA, NITEL, and TRANSCORP!
That, he acquired and funded large FARMS in the six geo-political zones with over N 2 billion naira, "borrowed" from United Bank for Africa, (UBA)! * That OBJ subtly approved for PTDF (was under his supervision), without recourse to Federal Executive Council (FEC), on the same day, two tranches of N 20 billion naira and N10 billion naira respectively which were never accounted for subsequently! * That his administration spent over N16 billion naira on phantom Power Projects! * There were also allegations of his involvement in bribery scandals in respect of the Halliburton and Siemens Contracts against some highly-placed government officials and retired Nigerian Presidents! *That it was during Obasanjos's era that the Executive lobbied Legislators with GHANA MUST GO BRIBE MONEY BAGS for approval of illegal favours! * That he was NEPOTIST in his appointments to the extent of presenting a rejected ministerial nominee before the Senate for FOUR times until the legislators succumbed! OBJ sold all government's critical infrastructures, including legislative/civil servants quarters, for PEA NUTS, to his political associates/cronies in order to achieve his third term desire!
“STEALING IS NOT CORRUPTION”. ACCORDING TO EX-PRESIDENT EBELE JONATHAN!
EX-President Jonathan took over from his principal who passed away suddenly in 2010 and like Emperor NERO of Rome, was lasvicious in office and under his very nose corruption festered without restrictionat all levels of government –the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary – through the tacit support of CIVIL SERVANTS in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies [MDS’s], and by the time he lost to the incumbent President Buhari in 2015, CORRUPTION WALKED ON ITS HEAD IN NIGERIA; and he left behind an almost empty treasury

HAS BUHARI’S GOVERNMENT FAIRED BETTER IN WAR AGAINST CORRUPTION? NO!
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REDUCTION OF CORRUPTION TO ALL GOVERNMENTS!
*Strengthen oversight institutions to ensure resources reach those most in need. Anti-corruption authorities and oversight institutions must have sufficient funds, resources and independence to perform duties.
*Ensure open and transparent contracting to combat wrongdoing, identify conflicts of interests and ensure fair pricing.
*Defend democracy and promote civic space to create the enabling conditions to hold governments accountable, AND,
*Publish relevant data and guarantee access to information to ensure the public receives easy, accessible, timely and meaningful information.

WILL NIGERIA AND HIS CABINET CHANGE NIGERIA’S NARRATIVE OF CORRUPTION INDEX BEFORE THEIR EXIT IN 2023?

Nigerian government always debunked the annual reports by claiming that the international body was oblivious of the achievements of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the fight against corruption!
Previous research by TI’s Global Health programme found that corruption deprives the global health sector of US$500 billion dollars annually!
Should this be a time to reject an authentic global report which would improve government/citizen’s relationship in the quest to eliminate institutional corruption and promote righteousness, equity, fair play and justice or a time to accept the truth execute the very explicit recommendations in order to move up the ladder among the top nations? The latter of this very salient question should be adopted to improve the lot of the TALAKAWAS who have always suffered maladministration of several years of mismanagement of scarce national resources! “A Word is sufficient for the wise!

Please look forward to more divine revelation in the next edition of Zion B-BC Newsletter as you share this with friends and remain blessed in the Lord. [For weekly access, to this newsletter, log on to: facebook.com/zionfaithbible.believingchurchor http://www.zfbbc1.blogspot.,

If you have not accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour, don’t miss this great opportunity as you pray this prayer: Lord Jesus; I confess that I am a sinner who needs to be saved through the grace of the New Testament of your Blood, shed on the Cross at Calvary; I renounce every sin in my life and accept you as my Lord and Saviour. Please forgive me and write my name in the Book of Life. Amen. If you prayed this prayer, you have been admitted into the family of sons and daughters of God, who are born-again. Congratulations.

I am, yours sincerely, Dr. David B.A. Olufon, Resident Pastor and Editor. 08130669886, 08098194390. 08080243066. G-mail- dvdolufon@gmail.com.