The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, has said that only thieves or potential thieves have a reason to worry about President Muhammadu Buhari’s comments on jailing more thieves.
Adesina said this when he made an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, in reaction to the criticism that followed the President’s comments.
According to him, the presidency is not worried about the criticisms because it is typical for people to find faults with anything.
He said, “Some people will criticize anything. They will find faults about anything.
“If they don’t have something to fault, they will begin to fault themselves. Therefore, it doesn’t worry us when we hear people like that because even if they mistakenly get to heaven, they will find fault with God.
“It is typical of some human beings and we have plenty of them in the country. But we are also grateful that we have many more, millions and millions who know what is going on and who appreciate the president.
“Talking of jailing thieves, its only thieves and potential thieves that need worry about that statement.
“If you are a thief, yes you have every cause to worry. If you are a potential thief, you have every cause to worry – because there was a time stealing was not corruption, but stealing is corruption today and if you are caught in corruption, you’ll answer. Therefore, you have every cause to worry,” Adesina stated.
President Buhari who returned from his 10-day vacation on Saturday, made the vow to jail more persons who were responsible for Nigeria’s economic problems.
“We are going to jail more of the thieves, you know – that brought the economic problem to the country. I think this is really expected of me and I will do it,” he said.
When asked why the president had to re-iterate the goal of his administration, Adesina explained further that the anti-corruption fight is a continuous war which still has a long way to go.
“It is a work in progress and a war in progress,” he said.
“There is a lot still, to do and the President will take that war very far. Remember when he came back from medical vacation last year, he said he was re-dedicating himself to serving the country and what are the three main things. the secure the country, to fight corruption and revive the economy so if he comes back like he did yesterday and reiterates the war against corruption, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with it,” he added.
CTV