Disregard for justice, rule of law more damning corruption than looting ― US ambassador

UNITED States ambassador to Nigeria, William Stuart Symington, has said that disregard for justice and rule of law in any society is a more grievous corruption than stealing of public fund.

Discussing with the audience after he delivered the convocation lecture of the University of Ilorin in the university on Monday, the US ambassador said that task of making Nigeria greater is that of both the government and the citizenry.

He had delivered a lecture, titled, “Citizen Leadership and the Link between Economic Diversity and Democratic Good Governance”.

Responding to a question from a member of the audience on how the country could attain development like the United States, Symington said that patriotism, selfless and transparent service, justice and consistency in doing good, are important factors.

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He said that disregard of justice and the rule of law should be seen as a greater form of corruption than stealing of money.

“What many consider as the great corruption is stealing of money but what to me is the great corruption is when people are deprived of justice, when you do things without regard to the rule of law”, he said.

Speaking on the lecture, the US envoy said the process of making Nigeria great requires a collective effort of all the stakeholders with the citizens working with the government instead of only relying on government for an improved fortune.

Symington, who expressed belief in the future greatness of Nigeria, urged the citizens to always do what they do at home as they do abroad. This, he explained, is giving priority to their Nigerian identity as against tribal or regional one.

He said that any young one who desires to contribute in future to transformation of the country to a better one should start the process now by trying to change life of his partner to a better, where necessary.

The Ambassador said security and other challenges in the country would be surmounted when the citizens unite and work together.

“One of the most important things that I want you to leave with today is the idea that good governance can only come from strong independent citizens. So, I think the right answer is that there is no person who can make Nigeria more secure.

“There was that time in Nigeria when security was not the job of only the soldier and the police, but every village chief and every person who lived in the town were involved.

“There is no police force in the whole world that keep the neighbourhood safe all by itself. If you have such a police force, I would not want to live in that neighbour hood. Every security in the world derives from the support of the people in the place that is insecure.

“If you will have the tenacity to change Nigeria, look around you right now and change the life of one person today.