TheCable

President Muhammadu Buhari says he won the 2015 election because Nigerians revolted against “endemic corruption”.

Buhari made the comment on Monday during the corruption risk training for heads of anti-corruption agencies of the African Union (AU) in Abuja.

He said those who plundered the nation’s commonwealth had deployed the same tactics to destabilise the current system, adding that they attempted to compromise law enforcement institutions in their bid to escape justice.

“When we assumed office in May 2015, the pervasive nature and devastating impact of corruption on the Nigerian nation had become dysfunctional. The momentum for our electoral victory could not be separated from the revolt of the people against glaring endemic corruption ” the president said.

“The fight against corruption is a battle for the souls of our different countries and it is one that we must win.

“Since independence, our continent has suffered from the severe consequences of corruption and it is imperative that we take steps to reverse the trend.

“During the past several months, we have been taking steps to institute integrity and transparency in the processes of government and holding those who have plundered our commonwealth to account for their actions.

“However, the costs of recovery and sanctions are also enormous. While commendable successes have been recorded, it has become manifest that corruption fights back. With enormous stolen resources, elements have attempted to compromise law enforcing institutions and pervert the course of justice.

“This realisation highlights the necessity of building a system that focuses on preventing corruption. We continue to implement policies aimed at building resilient systems that can withstand assault by corrupt officials.

“Our steps in this direction include the full implementation of both the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Bank Verification Number (BVN), the Open Government Partnership, various Executive Orders, strengthening the Anti-Corruption Agencies and permitting their full autonomy.

“It is in this context of building robust preventive systems that we must understand this initiative which aims to train leaders of anti-corruption agencies in the African Union by deploying corruption risk assessment methodology for corruption prevention in our countries.”

The president said the training was part of his administration’s support for the war against corruption in Nigeria.