The Catholic Bishop of Abuja Arch Diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, has said that the ongoing fight against corruption should not be seen as the sole idea President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Speaking during the ordination of nine priests in the diocese, which took place at the Catholic Pro-cathedral, Abuja on Saturday, Onaiyekan said the war against corruption is a tough one which cannot be fought without the support of religious institutions.
“It is not Buhari who is telling us to fight corruption. We have been doing it in many ways.
“I think we could do more in the fight against corruption if there is more synergy between government institutions and religious institutions.
I am not talking only of the church,” the clergy man stated.
He however said the current administration has done very little to ensure the active participation of religious leaders in the war against corruption.
He added that the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s administration can only become a success if the government provides a forum for the active collaboration of religious organisations in the ongoing war against corruption.
“There should be such arrangement whereby government officials and religious people can sit down and see how we can all contribute to the fight against corruption,” he said.
“For the moment I don’t think we have gotten the forum for that kind of cooperation.
“If we you want people’s heart to change you have to reach out to us, we are the experts in that,” the Cardinal said.
He however added that religious leaders have an obligation to help in the fight against corruption even without any official invitation from government.
“Although we don’t have to wait for them to tell us, but my own belief is that if there is a concious effort to work together, the impact will be more serious,” he noted.
