President Buhari held and interactive session with staff of the State House at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday with the declaration that “all corruption must stop”.
The President who resumed duties on Monday after a medical vacation in London to attend to an ear infection reiterated his resolve to fight corruption to a standstill.
Delivering a message that will ring in the ears of his listeners for a long time, Buhari warned the staff and, indeed, Nigerians across all disciplines to cultivate the right attitude and eschew all manner of fraudulent acts, stressing that jail awaits anyone found stealing.
Recalling his days back in secondary school, Buhari said he had always been allergic to corruption and will deal decisively with anyone who indulged in any illicit deals.
The President, who also emphasised personal integrity, urged the workers to be conscious of stigmatisation which may bring shame to their families.
“I thank you for welcoming me back from my health break. You are the judges, perhaps I look healthier than I left or I came worse,” he began.
“All fraud must stop. If they don’t believe us, they should go, try and see those we caught red handed with public funds.
“This exercise will continue as long as this leadership is here. Whoever takes anything that does not belong to him or that he is not entitled to, it will be documented and the person will be taken to court. This is the only way I think we can bail ourselves out.
“I am asking you to dedicate yourselves more to your country because I said more than 30 years ago, there is no other country but Nigeria. We must rehabilitate our country
“We are determined to rehabilitate our country for the sake of our children and our grandchildren. I have never in my life from class monitor to this place, twice in different forms, believed in corruption.
“In what we are doing, if we had made mistakes along the line, the country would have been further backward than this. But we don’t touch anybody who did not touch public funds.
“You should behave yourself. If you don’t have houses in Abuja and the whole of Europe, you will sleep soundly. You and your family will earn respect.
“But if you short-change the treasury, you will be caught and I pity your family because people will be abusing them. People will be calling you big thieves, that how did you raise money to build all the houses in Abuja and Europe with your meagre salary.
“I think personal integrity is something to be encouraged. I assure you that I am absolutely dedicated to serve Nigeria. Those who behave themselves will never regret, but those who don’t behave themselves, na their problem.”
