“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,” Bishop Kukah said.
By Emma Ogbuehi
As Nigerians continue to pass damning verdict on the eight-year administration of former President Muhammdu Buhari, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Matthew Hassan Kukah, has added his voice to the condemnations.
Bishop Kukah said that Nigeria witnessed the worst phase of corruption under Buhari’s watch.
Kukah stated this while delivering a keynote speech at the 60th call to bar anniversary celebration of legal icon, Aare Afe Babalola, in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
The cleric who noted that corruption did not start under Buhari, however, added that his administration amplified it morally and financially.
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.
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“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,” he said.
Kukah lamented that Nigeria is sharing its sovereignty which is guaranteed in the constitution with bandits and other terrorists.
The clergyman expressed worry that Nigeria is literally being held hostage by people who threaten the very existence of our democracy and country.
According to him, a lot of Nigerians have lost faith in the judiciary.
He described the judiciary as a victim the same way every other institution in Nigeria is suffering a crisis.
According to him, 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.”
The Bishop, however, said it is time to rebuild the country, adding that Nigerians have put the “ugly past” behind them, following the outcome of the 2023 general elections.