Secretary of State of the United States (U.S.), Mr John Kerry, on Monday said the world lost $2.6 trillion to corruption annually.
Kerry made this known when he visited the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, in his palace in Sokoto on Tuesday.
He said that the money being lost to corruption across the world was enough to provide decent livelihood for people.
”This is money that can be used to improve the living standard and provide decent livelihoods for them. Corruption is not only a crime, but very dangerous and it must be tamed,” he said.
Commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his efforts in fighting corruption in Nigeria, Kerry pointed out that corrupt officials, anywhere in the world, were crooks.
He said that Buhari understood the danger of corruption in a country, and that Nigeria was already a regional leader in the fight against corruption.
”Nigeria is also a role model in the ongoing global efforts to fight corruption,” he stated, and acknowledged measures being applied by Buhari to entrench morality, transparency, honesty and good governance in the country.
Kerry particularly commended the Federal Government for its efforts at recovering stolen funds, stressing that there was need for all government institutions, including military, other security agencies and the judiciary, to support the anti-corruption campaign.
”U.S. is also fully committed to fighting corruption and the entrenchment of good governance globally.
”One of Nigeria’s strength is diversity of culture and religious tolerance.
”The former leaders of the defunct Sokoto caliphate and others like the late Sir Ahmadu Bello had stood by the virtues of peace, unity and tolerance,” he said.
On insurgency in Nigeria, Kerry also commended the government determination to combat the menace and other crimes across the country.
Condemning terrorism in the country, he said “Boko Haram boasts no agenda more than to burn schools. They also kill and maim people, especially teachers, and it is the opposite of any religion.”
He said that the U.S. was deeply committed to working with partners like Nigeria to build counter-terrorism capacities, disclosing that his government had worked out counter-terrorism strategies that would be implemented globally.
The envoy commended the sultan for his relentless efforts at entrenching peace and unity in Nigeria and beyond.
He lauded the plan by the sultanate council to establish an all-women university, saying that girls, women, children and other vulnerable groups “must be educated, given jobs and opportunities to explore their potential’’.
In his remarks, the Sultan commended Kerry for the visit and his ”inspiring speech” and said that the gesture would encourage “us to redouble our efforts for a stronger, united and prosperous Nigeria’’.
Kerry also lauded the efforts of the Sultan for promoting religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.
He said that the Sultanate Council was building a community of tolerance for peace, progress and political stability in Nigeria.
He said that the United States would continue to identify itself with the Sultanate in strengthening religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians.
He said that being the first secretary of state to visit the seat of the caliphate, all hands should be on deck towards strengthening religious knowledge among Nigerians.
Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar had earlier expressed delight at the visit.
He said that the council would continue to promote peaceful coexistence among Nigerians for the overall political growth of the country.
He explained that religious tolerance and understanding among Nigerians remained the principal objective of the
Sultanate in mobilising Nigerians to tolerate one another for peace, progress and political stability of the country .
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who accompanied Kerry to the palace, said the state government would continue to strengthen peaceful coexistence among the people, irrespective of religious, tribal and political differences.
” We don’t discriminate on religious,tribal, ethnic or political affiliations as we accommodate all for peace and harmony, ” he said.
Kerry had a closed door meeting with the Sultan and some christian and muslim leaders.
Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, Deputy National Chairman of APC North West, were present during the courtesy visit on the Sultan.
