I’ll Fight Corruption from Federal Level to LGs – Buhari

May 29, 2015 –  President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to live up to his election promises by checking corruption from the Federal level to the local government level in line with the Nigerian constitution.

Buhari who was speaking at his inauguration in Abuja said that constitutionally there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that it does not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments.

He said that as far as the Federal Government is concerned with Local Government Joint Account, it will not interfere with details of its operation but that he will ensure that corruption at the local government level is checked.

“While the Federal Government cannot interfere in the details of its operations it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked.

“As far as the constitution allows me I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country.

“For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch”, he said.

The President added that he will serve as president to all Nigerians.

“I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians. I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”, he said and vowed that Nigerians will not regret electing him as president.

“Nigerians will not regret that they have entrusted national responsibility to us. We must not succumb to hopelessness and defeatism. We can fix our problems”, he said.

Buhari thanked immediate past president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for accepting defeat even before final results were declared, adding that the gesture made Nigerians proud of themselves wherever they are, hoping that the gesture would be the standard for political conduct in Nigeria.

“I would like to thank President Goodluck Jonathan for his display of statesmanship in setting a precedent for us that has now made our people proud to be Nigerians wherever they are.

“With the support and cooperation he has given to the transition process, he has made it possible for us to show the world that despite the perceived tension in the land we can be a united people capable of doing what is right for our nation.

“Together we co-operated to surprise the world that had come to expect only the worst from Nigeria. I hope this act of graciously accepting defeat by the outgoing President will become the standard of political conduct in the country”, he said.