Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday pledged his government’s supports towards the eradication of corruption in fellow West African nation Ghana.
The 75-year-old leader made the remarks during Ghana’s 61st Independence anniversary celebration at the Independence Square in Accra.
‘‘Your Excellency (President Nana Akufo-Addo) can be assured that you have a good partner in me as I look forward to any form of collaboration between Nigeria and Ghana in tackling the menace of endemic corruption,” Buhari said in his speech.
‘‘Given all these public policies, it becomes reassuring that with the right leadership, Africa’s drives to eradicate poverty and to entrench democracy is on course,’’ he added.
Buhari’s remarks were however widely received back home with distrust, as Nigerians hit at the presidency for not tackling graft in his own country.
According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2017, corruption is more widespread in Nigeria than it is in Ghana.
The global anti-graft agency ranks Ghana at 81 in the Index, while Nigeria is ranked at a lowly 148 out of 180 countries.
Nigerians on Twitter took issue with Buhari’s offer to President Akufo-Addo, urging him to focus eradication of graft within his country before attempting to help another country.
Here’s a sample of reactions online following Buhari’s pledge to Ghana;
Dear President Nana Akufo-Addo,@NAkufoAddo, I gather President Buhari promised to teach Ghana how to fight corruption. Can a man without hair teach you how to comb your hair? Transparency International says corruption has increased in Nigeria under Buhari! Is this your teacher? pic.twitter.com/kfDCHG2RFX
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) March 6, 2018
Nigeria President Buhari vowed to fight corruption in Ghana and the Ghana crowd bowed him. Please remove the peck in your eyes before trying to remove same from others eyes.
— Peter Okereke PhD. (@OkerekePhd) March 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/AlhasaanMataaya/status/971372211532713984
Please did Buhari truly promised to help Ghana fight corruption? My Ghanaian friends please we apologize, it was a typo error….
— Nwokeji Chijioke E. (@NwokejiChijioke) March 7, 2018
Buhari of Nigeria offering to help Ghana fight corruption is like Yemen and Somalia offering to lead the world to Peace
— Donald Ekpo (@Donekpo) March 7, 2018
