Ndume admits politicians steal funds to distribute to their constituencies to ensure reelection
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) has expressed support for a bill for death penalty for politicians who steal trillions of naira of public funds, but said he would not support killing those who steal millions or billions.
The Senate on May 9 passed a bill on death penalty for drug traffickers, which has provoked discussion on expanding the bill to include treasury looters who commit economic crimes against Nigerians.
Ndume said corruption in Nigerian politics is done by individuals who also distribute resources to people and may not warrant severe consequences or else there would be not politicians left.
He spoke on Channels Television, where he argued that “If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven.
“If you steal it [money], you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years. There is no reason for stealing.
“I have been [in] the National Assembly, I can’t say because we are on TV now and not telling the truth.
“If the death penalty is supposed to be included in corruption, I will support it but you don’t go and kill someone that stole one million or one billion, no. But someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.”
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