I know individuals, groups involved in corruption but I will not expose them – President Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday
had disclosed to a section of Nigerians that
he personally knows some persons
involved in corruption, but would not
reveal their identity and would prefer to
remain silent over it.
“When you talk about corruption, the
private sector is involved; the public sector
is involved; even the individuals including
other societies, and I wouldn’t want to
mention names so that I will not be
attacked,” he said.
The statement has however drew criticism
from different individuals at the gathering.
A member of the audience, when asked to
respond to the comment, told DailyPost
that, “This is what we are saying. Why can’t
Mr. President indict the people. What or
who is he scared of,” the financial expert
asked rhetorically.
Mr. Jonathan had at the gathering lamented
that in spite of the institutional reforms
aimed at fighting corrupt practices,
Nigerians, through their actions, still
reward corruption.
He spoke on Tuesday in Abuja while
declaring open the 54th annual conference
of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES)
with the theme, “Institutions, Institutional
Reforms and Economic Development”.
The President stated that, if Nigerians do
not reward corrupt practices, those who
enriched themselves through dubious
means would not be celebrated today,
adding that the fight against corruption is
not what the government alone can handle.
He accused both public and private
institutions of being involved in sharp
practices.
“We believe that we should not create an
environment where people would be
tempted to take what belongs to the public
because that is why even in the fertiliser
business, we talk about electronic wallet so
that funds are not exposed to corrupt
people,” he said.
“But I know that if collectively, all
of us don’t reward corruption,
people would not be attracted to corrupt
practices, but when we all reward
corruption, then of course, we will be
tempted to go in that direction.”
Jonathan pledged that his administration
would continue to focus on how to
strengthen all anti-corruption agencies to
step up the fight against corruption.
“In this regard, the leadership of the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
and the Independent Corrupt Practices and
other Related Offences have been
repositioned to ensure more effective,
efficient and transparent way of managing
corruption and corrupt practices”
“I want a society where all of us will frown
upon people who come up with what they
are not supposed to have.
Giving an instance, the President said “If a
young man who just started a job and
within six months or a year comes up with
a car of N7m to N15m and you clap for
him, then you are rewarding corruption.
“So for us as a nation to bring corruption
down in Nigeria, it is not just blaming
government or blaming police, but all
individuals must frown upon people who
have what they are not supposed to have;
who live in houses they are not supposed
to live in; who drive cars they are not
supposed to drive and who wear the most
expensive suits.”