MsemajiUkweli
JF-Expert Member
- Jul 5, 2012
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In this interview with Professor Patrice Lumumba, a former Director of Anti-Corruption Commission in Kenya and the Director of the Kenya School of Law, he discusses the challenges of fighting corruption with. Lumumba, who was on Nigeria Channels Television, expresses the hope that with a sustenance of the momentum in President John Magufuli and Muhammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption, the dividends of a corrupt-free society would be there for all to benefit.
Excerpts:
How do you relate what is happening in Tanzania, where the President is leading the fight against corruption, to the type of approach you want to see?
Answer:
Even before the Tanzanian example, we had a leader in Botswana, who has been able to demonstrate, with the support of the people, the benefits that accrue to a nation when its people choose the path of rectitude.
There was a President in Namibia too. Recently, everyone has been enamoured by the zeal of President Magufulli of Tanzania. It is early days yet to give a judgment whether he is succeeding or not, but one thing you must admit is that he has telegraphed his message of anti-corruption and we hope he will remain on that course and then recruit others to support him in the fight against corruption.
One of the most dangerous things in Africa today, even if you are the President of a nation, is to declare that you are going to fight corruption. It is such a big enterprise that there would be no shortage of individuals who would want to liquidate you or to eliminate you altogether because corruption is a big industry – people pay school fees, people enjoy the big life on the basis of corruption so that those who have declared themselves to be in the fore-front of the fight against corruption, like President Magufuli and your own President Muhammadu Buhari must know that they are on the line of fire and can be eliminated anytime.
How would you suggest leaders handle criticism, especially those fighting corruption when accused of ethnicising or politicising it?
Answer:
I think what one must do is, in a manner of speaking, to be sensitive to the realities of the moment.
But the truth is that thieves are thieves. It doesn’t matter where you start from – a thief is a thief.
When you start with a political party, that is the beginning and you must start somewhere and this idea of apportioning blames and saying that it is only one side that is being dealt with is not an issue.
The question that we must ask is a basic question: Have you been engaged in a corrupt activity? If we catch you, we deal with you according to the dictates of the law. And in the fight against corruption, it is very incumbent on those who are in political leadership to ensure that nobody is treated like a sacred cow.
One of the things that we must not lose sight of in Africa is that African countries are very fragile – talking about democracy.
But in a country such as Nigeria, which is multi-ethnic – we may deny for all we want but there are Igbos, Yoruba’s, Ibibios, Hausas; and in Kenya, whether we like it or not, there are Kambas, Kikuyus and that is the reality of Africa and it is a reality that cannot be wished away because we are still in the process of trying to strengthen the state and that is why one has to be sensitive.
Read more at: Most of the people elected into public office in Africa are thieves - Lumumba - Vanguard News
Excerpts:
How do you relate what is happening in Tanzania, where the President is leading the fight against corruption, to the type of approach you want to see?
Answer:
Even before the Tanzanian example, we had a leader in Botswana, who has been able to demonstrate, with the support of the people, the benefits that accrue to a nation when its people choose the path of rectitude.
There was a President in Namibia too. Recently, everyone has been enamoured by the zeal of President Magufulli of Tanzania. It is early days yet to give a judgment whether he is succeeding or not, but one thing you must admit is that he has telegraphed his message of anti-corruption and we hope he will remain on that course and then recruit others to support him in the fight against corruption.
One of the most dangerous things in Africa today, even if you are the President of a nation, is to declare that you are going to fight corruption. It is such a big enterprise that there would be no shortage of individuals who would want to liquidate you or to eliminate you altogether because corruption is a big industry – people pay school fees, people enjoy the big life on the basis of corruption so that those who have declared themselves to be in the fore-front of the fight against corruption, like President Magufuli and your own President Muhammadu Buhari must know that they are on the line of fire and can be eliminated anytime.
How would you suggest leaders handle criticism, especially those fighting corruption when accused of ethnicising or politicising it?
Answer:
I think what one must do is, in a manner of speaking, to be sensitive to the realities of the moment.
But the truth is that thieves are thieves. It doesn’t matter where you start from – a thief is a thief.
When you start with a political party, that is the beginning and you must start somewhere and this idea of apportioning blames and saying that it is only one side that is being dealt with is not an issue.
The question that we must ask is a basic question: Have you been engaged in a corrupt activity? If we catch you, we deal with you according to the dictates of the law. And in the fight against corruption, it is very incumbent on those who are in political leadership to ensure that nobody is treated like a sacred cow.
One of the things that we must not lose sight of in Africa is that African countries are very fragile – talking about democracy.
But in a country such as Nigeria, which is multi-ethnic – we may deny for all we want but there are Igbos, Yoruba’s, Ibibios, Hausas; and in Kenya, whether we like it or not, there are Kambas, Kikuyus and that is the reality of Africa and it is a reality that cannot be wished away because we are still in the process of trying to strengthen the state and that is why one has to be sensitive.
Read more at: Most of the people elected into public office in Africa are thieves - Lumumba - Vanguard News
