The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of allowing corruption to thrive, saying the menace has enjoyed “great freedom” under the current government.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation while explaining the party’s decision to describe corruption as economic banditry.
Abdullahi said the description was contained in the ADC’s Governance Principles and Code of Ethics, known as the Orange Book, which guides members and public officials elected or appointed under the party.
He said the party deliberately used the term economic banditry to draw Nigerians’ attention to the seriousness of corruption and its impact on the country.
He explained that the party viewed corruption as the economic equivalent of violent banditry because of the damage it causes to lives, the economy and wider society.
“We want Nigerians to understand that corruption can be as damaging to the country as violent crime.
“But in the ADC term, while banditry is a violent act, corruption is the economic form of banditry and we must let the public know that,” he said.
Turning to the Tinubu administration, the ADC spokesman alleged that corruption had been given considerable room to operate.
He also alleged that the composition of the President’s campaign team showed that the administration was corruption-friendly.
He accused the government of protecting and appointing people facing corruption allegations.
“If elected, the ADC will make the fight against corruption a major part of its governance agenda, and we are calling on Nigerians to support our efforts to challenge the Tinubu administration,” he added.