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Obi, Kagame: What Difference Between Their Views On Fighting Corruption And Wealth Creation?

The Oasis Reporters

June 15, 2019

Peter (left), Paul Kagame.

In a classic comparison between a Peter and a Paul, one a vice-presidential contestant of Nigeria and the other, the progressive president of Rwanda, Nigerians who do not see the hero in their leadership icons were rapt in attention when President Paul Kagame spoke while delivering his keynote address at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) anti-corruption summit in Abuja on Tuesday.
Rwandan president, Paul Kagame declared that ‘Africa it’s not enough to fight corruption, but to create value and wealth’.

Consider that during the political campaigns and debate principally between Peter Obi of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo of the All Progressives Congress, APC, while the Vice president went on and on about fighting corruption under the previous PDP regime, Peter Obi countered by saying that fighting corruption cannot be an economic policy. Peter Obi believes more in adding value and creating wealth. He remains a reference point till date on turning economic fortunes around for state governments. Fearful supporters of the ruling party lampooned him, making caricatures of his person, just to diminish the potency of his position.

It has now taken the Rwandan President Paul Kagame, to practically re-emphasize the position of Peter Obi as the true and correct point of view. After all, Kagame remains an iconic president delivering goals on growth and development to his people, while uniting a people emerging from strife and conflict.

Kagame said he would like to start by calling to mind the greatness of Nigeria. The diversity, creativity and ambition of Nigerians represent Africa. The achievements of Nigeria’s sons and daughters here at home and in your global diaspora make our continent proud.

Nigeria has always shown common cause with Africa’s progress and prosperity and this does not go unnoticed. This country is truly the engine of Africa’s potential. This is how we see Nigeria. I hope you know that.

We stand in solidarity with your efforts to build on all the assets with which this country has been blessed and we are invested in your success.

Kagame went on to suggest that the anti-corruption fight should be reframed “in positive terms: as a struggle for transparency, public integrity and accountability.”

Speaking on fighting corruption, Kagame said:

This is a fight that can be won; tolerating corruption is a choice, not an inevitability. It is within our power to end it. That is the most important starting point, otherwise, it will be a waste of time to keep talking about it.

Corruption does not take decades to eradicate once we decide to break the habit.

We have to set our sights high, it is not enough to fight corruption just as merely fighting poverty, it is too small an ambition for Africa. We want to create value, we want to create wealth, not merely fighting corruption.

Kagame continued: “Corruption needs to be tackled from the top down. This is not only the fairest approach, it is also the most effective because it empowers the public to join the fight and hold leaders accountable.” He suggested that corruption must be fought using four key principles: “culture, responsibility, accountability and effectiveness”.

“We must discard the myth that corruption is endemic to particular cultures. corruption is a universal weakness, not an African one, and it is not part of our destiny as a continent,” he continued.

Kagame praised Buhari for being recognised as an African Union anti-corruption champion.

In just that speech full of diplomatic chit chat and niceties, the message has been deposited that creating wealth is the way forward for Nigeria and Africa, rather than staying on the fight against corruption lane, while the country slides into poverty and deeper poverty.

Additional source : Bellanaija

Greg Abolo

Blogger at The Oasis Reporters.

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