Senator Ali Ndume, the Senate’s Chief Whip, has stated that he would only endorse the death penalty for politicians guilty of embezzling trillions, not millions or billions.
According to the Senator, corruption within Nigerian politics was mainly influenced by individuals, a factor he noted that may not necessitate severe punishments.
Ndume said this while speaking on Channels TV programme, Politics Today, where he acknowledged the unfortunate reality that politicians are not exempt from engaging in corruption.
“If you compare us, politicians, to all the corruption, it is very small. Our corruption is people-driven.
“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.” He said.