The clergy in charge of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Sabo-Oke, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Rev. Olawuyi James, and the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, have said President Muhammadu Buhari alone cannot fight corruption. They called on all stakeholders to support the Federal Government's anti-corruption fight.

James spoke during the commendation service for Mrs. Janet Akinleye, the mother of the wife of Kwara State Governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed. The cleric alleged that there were many government officials who engaged in unwholesome acts and corruption. He called on them to have a change of heart.

He urged leaders to work for the good of the society and for national development. He advised them to avoid unbridled and illicit material acquisition and corruption. James said, "There are so many thieves in government. There are also many government officials who are of exemplary conduct. All those running after money and their money are not affecting others should know that they would leave it one day.

"We must support the fight against corruption. It should not be for the Federal Government alone; the state and local governments must fight corruption. Let us chase away the thieves among us." The Kwara State governor, described the deceased as a mother who left legacies worthy of emulation.

The service was attended by many government officials, including the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Peter Kisira, and many clergy men. Also, while speaking during the biennial week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin chapter, Ahmed said the fight against corruption should not be personalised but be institutionalised.

He said that the fight against graft would not be effective if anti-graft institutions were not strengthened and allowed to perform their constitutional duties without influence. He urged Buhari to reform the process of anti-corruption fight and prevent it from being personalised.

Ahmed said, "I urge the President to institutionalise the fight against corruption. Nobody wants corruption but when you personalise it and people now see it as being selective, it will not succeed.

"Everybody must support the fight against corruption. It is not for Buhari alone. Buhari alone cannot fight it. Corruption is bigger than him; it is bigger than the anti-graft agencies. If the fight against corruption is institutionalised, Buhari does not even need to talk. The institution will be on auto-pilot. But now, it is not on auto-pilot. They look at the body language of whoever is there. If he wants them to go, they go. And they look at the body language of somebody who is close to the President and if he does not want them to go, they get back. So we are wasting our time."