Former Ghanaian President, Jerry Rawlings has described the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration as one of the most corrupt administration in africa, adding that his government has failed to punish politicians who steal public fund under his administration.
While the Nigeria leadership pay “Lip service” to corrupt officials looting billions, Mr. Rawlings said Monday, it directs its resources at persecuting anti-graft fighters and persecuting petty thieves.
Mr. Rawlings in a speech at the National Legislative Institute in Abuja on Monday, said, “Corrupt politicians (especially in Jonathan Administration)
Mr. Rawlings added, “Nigeria has become a Country were poor, petty thieves get imprisoned for several years while businessmen who evade taxes in millions of dollars OR politicians who misappropriate
millions of state funds escape punishment, (some are even grant a resounding STATE
PARDON).”
He said Africa lost at least $38.4 billion and $25 billion in 2008 and 2010 respectively to illicit financial outflows.
“These inequalities are recopies for retrogression of our democracies and we cannot allow the negative to continue. As I said earlier a democracy that cannot provide socio-economic justice cannot be a healthy democracy and will remain vulnerable,” he said.
Mr. Rawlings urged Africans to reject henceforth laws allowing the president to choose their countries’ Chief Justice, to ensure true independence of the judiciary.
“Our institutions are weak because we do not strengthen and protect them adequately in our constitutions,” he said. “While the legislature can enact laws that empower institutions, constitutional entrenchment of such provisions would ensure that political parties with majority control within legislative assemblies do not manipulate the power of these institutions.”
He advised that the appointment should go through a consultative process that the president will not manipulate.
“Nigeria has made giant strides over the past decade politically but still faces complicated challenges , which many of you will bear with me has socio-cultural implications that have been ignored for a significant period,” he said.
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