Bankole Taiwo, Abeokuta
A former member of the House of Representatives and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, Hon Moshood Adegoke Salvador, has called for capital punishment for anyone found guilty of corrupt practices saying that it was high time the menace was handled with all seriousness and iron hand.
Hon. Moshood Salvador declared that it was quite obvious to see the devastating blow corruption has dealt the country saying that the activities of many corrupt public officials at all government levels are killing Nigerians maintaining that anyone standing trial for corruption charges should no longer be allow to enjoy bail.
The former lawmaker equally knocked the Federal Government for its plans to build oxygen plants in 38 locations across the country at cost of N6.8 billion.
Salvador, who described the cost of the oxygen plants as “outrageous” when compared to similar plants in the United States of America and United Kingdom, said Nigeria cannot afford to be extravagant in the face of the current economic downturn.
The former federal lawmaker spoke with journalists at the sidelines of a Public Lecture and Patrons’ Luncheon, organised at the weekend by the Federated Chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council, held at the Olusegun Obasanjo Library, Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.
Salvador, who represented Mushin 1 Federal Constituency at the House of Reps between 2003 and 2007, explained that when N6.8 billion is divided into 38, a singular oxygen plant would be built in Nigeria at N178.9m, which according to him “is far above that of the USA and UK”.
He said through personal investigation, similar plant in the US would cost N33m, while N27.7m would be required to build one oxygen plant in the UK.
Salvador expressed his worries over what he termed as “cost inflation of projects”, warning the federal government to be prudent and minimise cost.
While noting that corruption has been a major harbinger of insecurity, infrastructure decay in both education and health sectors as well as other key areas of the economy, the former lawmaker said corruption had been “institutionalised” in the country at the detriment of its development and progress.
Speaking earlier on a topic, ‘Whither Nigeria’, Salvador noted that the National Assembly members gave their “powerful support to legalise the act of corruption”, pointing they were in the legislature for selfish reasons.
“As soon as President Muhammadu Buhari got the mantle of power because of the no-nonsense man he was known for, all government workers including the public were ready to go by way of integrity.
“All windows of corruption were getting closed. Special type of accounts was introduced for proper revenue collection. Immediately Mr. President’s health deteriorated and was hospitalized for a long time, the technocrats perfected their strategies of embezzlement and corruption waged in, in a big way.
“Elected members of legislative houses will then give their powerful support to legalise the act as designed. It is sad to know that legislators came to the House for money making and not in the interest of their people. I was once a legislator,” he added.
He submitted that Nigerians are dying due to corrupt practices of the public officials at all levels of government, declaring that fighting the menace requires an “iron hand and all seriousness.”