By Tare Youdeowei

ABUJA—The Federal Government has been told to ensure fairness and transparency in the way the anti-corruption battle is fought in order not to give the impression of witch-hunting any particular set of people.

The advice was given by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, at the weekend.

According to him, Nigerians have agreed that there is an intolerable level of corruption in the country and that something should be done about it, but it should not be done by just rounding up a few people.

He said: “Government should not let people have a feeling that the war against corruption is about targeting certain people. That will defeat the war against corruption.

Cardinal-Onaiyekan

‘’My feelings about this whole thing is based on my understanding of the fact that the kind of corruption in Nigeria we had was endemic. While not saying people who took money should be allowed to go free, I think that the emphasis should be on the system.

‘’Reorganize the system of governance in the country in such a way that it would not be easy for anybody to steal millions and billions of naira because of the position he or she had held in government.

“Insist that structures that regulate the affairs of governance, especially the financial aspect, be done in such a way that you do not have to be a saint to be honest.”

The Cardinal noted that it would be difficult to find anybody who had a hand in the affairs of the country in the last 20 years not to have something against him or her, but warned government against creating the impression of witch-hunting.

While reacting to the trial of former Head of Service of the Federation, Mr Stephen Oronsaye, the Archbishop said government should be careful and protect those who could be facing trial based on having made enemies while in government.

“If we have a situation where someone had stepped on powerful toes while in government and he is now being unjustly punished. I would have thought that this would be a concern of government that this does not happen.

“That being the case, the way we deal with the so called corrupt people needs to be carefully addressed, so as not to appear, in the words we are hearing nowadays, witch hunting.”