1st June, 2016
Archbishop Alfred Martins of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos on Wednesday called for stiffer penalties for those found guilty of corruption and would-be offenders.
The cleric also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to put in place fool-proof measures that would deter prospective looters of the country’s wealth.
Martins said this at his 57th birthday anniversary held at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos.
“From our ministries, parastatal agencies to the private sector and even the banking institutions, we must put in place adequate checks and balances that will make it difficult for those with tendencies to tamper with our common wealth to do so.
“An important way of doing this, is to strengthen the judiciary, make them truly independent and enact enabling laws that will ensure stiffer penalties for the accused and would-be offenders, irrespective of who they may be,’’ he said.
The prelate said that the unity of the nation at this point in time could not be compromised, saying“ we stand to gain more in unity than apart.
“Granted that much havoc has been committed by the activities of the Niger Delta militants, and the divisive tendencies of the Indigenous People of Biafra(IPOB), I still believe strongly that the president must bury the hatchet and call for dialogue with the aggrieved parties.
“He must prove to all that he is the father of all by listening to all the grievances and make attempts to address them one after the other.
“On the other hand, those who feel aggrieved also need to consider the common good of a strong and united nation in making their demands and pointing out their grievances.
Martins urged Nigerians not to play the “blame game’’ but to think more of how to move the nation forward.
“The task ahead is not about PDP or APC, it transcends party line, and it is about the soul of our great country, Nigeria.
“The more we dwell on the errors of the past, the more we stumble and fall.
“I believe the present administration needs to focus less on the past mistakes and face the future and the task of leading the nation out of the quagmire that we are in now.
“Let us look beyond those things that divide us and dwell more on those that unites us,’’ he said.