The Senator representing Borno South District in the 10th National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has given a rare insight into how politicians not only secure reelection, but how they use money stolen from public coffers to achieve same.
Ndume, who is the Chief Whip of the Senate, also disclosed that he won’t support capital punishment for corrupt politicians who steal in millions or billions, but he would support the penalty for those who steal in trillions.
Ndume argues that corruption in Nigerian politics is primarily influenced by individuals and that it may not necessitate severe consequences.
The senator acknowledged that politicians engage in corruption, while he also argued that they distribute the proceeds to members of the public.
He said, “If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven,” he told Channels Television in a media interview.
“If you steal it, you will go and share it with the people. If you don’t, you are not coming back for four years. There is no reason for stealing.
“I have been to the National Assembly, I can’t say because we are on TV now and not telling the truth.
“If the death penalty is supposed to be included in corruption, I will support it; but you don’t go and kill someone that stole one million or one billion, no.
“But someone who steals one trillion of government money should be killed.”
