Babafemi Badejo, a Professor of Political Science and International Relations, has said that although ex-President Muhammadu Buhari failed woefully in the fight against corruption, his successor, President Bola Tinubu, would be worse in handling the anti-graft war.

Mr Badejo explained that with his assessment of Mr Tinubu in the last month of his government, he’s not prepared to tackle corruption though he might perform far better than his predecessor, Mr Buhari, in other areas of the economy.

“It is my own view that former President Muhammadu Buhari failed woefully on the issue of anti-corruption. He did start by wanting to implement the UN anti-corruption strategy and went further to appoint a committee and that committee did nothing till today.

“On President Tinubu, it is too early to give a conclusion, but I can say that from what he has done in one month, he will do by far better than Buhari, but not on corruption,” he said on Wednesday at the first inaugural lecture of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mr Badejo added, “He (Tinubu) has not been talking about corruption, but all he has been saying is that he is going to make sure that judges are comfortable, make everybody comfortable, but no country around the world can be comfortable by staying very far away from fighting corruption. Maybe he will change his mind later on corruption.”

In 2015, Mr Buhari rode into office on his rhetoric of tackling corruption, ending insecurity and improving the country’s economy. However, many Nigerians could not pinpoint clear differences in the anti-graft war.

Mr Buhari’s regime was rocked by several corruption scandals, ranging from certificate forgery among his aides to theft and diversion of public funds.

Before leaving office, Mr Buhari admitted that no country can and has ever defeated corruption, contrary to his campaign promise to “kill corruption before it kills Nigerians.”

Speaking further, Mr Badejo said the citizens are making corruption thrive in the country, as they are too docile and tolerant of the menace.

He specifically noted that successive governments, especially that of President Buhari, have not addressed corruption with the full force of a political will that goes beyond mere lip service.

“Though possibly a hasty conclusion, I do not think the objective realities would allow President Tinubu to do any better, even if he ever wanted to fight corruption. The resultant outcome is unfruitful half-heartedly done prosecutorial gimmicks and noise, cherry-picking and selective haphazard trials,” the University don added.