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CNS Story:
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NIGERIA-MONEY Jan-4-2008 (270 words) xxxi
Nigerian cardinal urges disclosure of how recovered funds were spent
By Peter Ajayi Dada
Catholic News Service
LAGOS, Nigeria (CNS) -- Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie of Lagos has urged the Nigerian government to disclose what it did with the stolen money recovered from politicians and other public officials.
Cardinal Okogie, speaking to reporters Jan. 1 in Lagos, said Nigerians would want to know how much had been recovered and on what it had been spent.
"Very often, we hear of the recovery of our stolen money, but we're never told how much of it is recovered from our corrupt leaders and what is done with the recovered loot," the archbishop said.
"We need to know. The people are anxious not only to know the amount but what is being done with the recovered loot," he said.
The cardinal praised the anti-corruption zeal of the current Nigerian administration, headed by President Umaru Yar'Adua, and stressed that "the anti-corruption crusade should be on course."
He also said he regretted that the world's image of Nigeria is bad.
"We seem to be cutting (off) our nose to spite our face. The federal government should do everything possible to protect the constitutional rights of the people at all times and not tailor it according to the whims and caprices of some selfish and unpatriotic people," he said.
He urged the president to send career diplomats who were God-fearing and patriotic to represent Nigeria overseas as ambassadors.
"Ambassadorial appointments should not be politicized," he said.
The cardinal also urged Yar'Adua to encourage the industrial and agricultural sectors and to give priority to the improvement of the electricity supply.
END
Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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