Archbishop’s corruption warning to Nigeria

Monday, 21st April 2008
By George Conger

Nigeria must change its corrupt and unaccountable political system if it is to break free from poverty, violence and disorder, the Archbishop of Nigeria said in a sermon to government leaders last week.

Speaking at a service of thanksgiving marking the birthday of the governor of Ogun State on April 5, Archbishop Peter Akinola said "until Nigerians resolve that they want a free country, and where elections are not seen as a do-or-die affair, we won't make any progress as a nation.”

Political corruption fuels Nigeria’s human rights problems, the New York-based NGO Human Rights Watch reports. Since the end of military rule in 1999, a number of political leaders have embezzled money from state coffers to rig elections to maintain their hold on power. Over 12,000 Nigerians have died in sectarian and political clashes since the end of military rule. the rest