President and founder, Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Rev. Uma Ukpai has described President Muhammadu Buhari’s “war on corruption” as “one-sided, selective, anti-PDP and anti South East geo-political zone.”

The clergyman, who was speaking in an interview with the media on the issue in Uyo, noted that “the battle against corruption in a country where 99.9 per cent of the citizens are poor and ignorant, is not realisable,” adding: “If you are going to fight corruption, the starting point is knowledge, then enough money for everybody to live an honourable life.”

“A situation where there are so many unemployed persons, so many who are penniless, to fight corruption is like building castle in the air. I have been hearing about war against corruption, but I have not seen anything to show that they have started. We have heard the commotion of the engine, but have not seen the movement of vehicle,” he stated.

Rev. Ukpai, advised that if the president really wanted to “change” Nigeria, “then in selecting officers, he should look for people who have vision and mission who are committed and ready to serve Nigeria with honesty.”

He stressed that Nigeria is looking for a servant leader that knows what the questions are. “Many of our leaders don’t know what the questions are, and a person who does not know what the questions are cannot pass any examination,” adding, “It is like asking someone to mention the longest river in the world and since he did not know, if he mentions Aba River, in Abia State, we would all know there is no such river in Aba.”

“God does not give wisdom to arrogant, self-seeking, selfish, uncaring and unfeeling people. Wisdom is given to those who are caring, great feeling, accountable to God, and respect for others,” he pointed out.

Rev. Ukpai stated that “our case is worse than what some media organisations have been telling us. “Let’s go back briefly to what the president has done about corruption, as I am speaking, I have not heard about the government of the day saying anything against any APC member, or is it that all the APC officials are angels or saints? The answer is No, because most of the PDP members are former members of the PDP. To me, they are one side of the coin, but we are watching and praying with our knees that God should have mercy on ordinary people of Nigeria.”

On the appointments so far made by the administration, he described it as “a joint disappointment, as the president has appointed some people to places of responsibilities and does not appoint anybody from the South East zone; that spells danger and fear in the hearts of the affected Nigerians, and that means that the APC government must tidy up what they are doing before they destroy this nation.” he warned.

In his assessment of the APC administration, Rev. Ukpai said it was very difficult, “I learnt the president is on a honey moon. A man who is enjoying his honey moon cannot be judged for any action. He is supposed to be inactive as he should be hiding somewhere with his bride and not visible, so I cannot assess him and his APC government, as there is nothing to help me assess them as of now.”

•Photo shows Uma Ukpai.

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