The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL has affirmed that Corruption is Nigeria’s primary problem and it is a major challenge the country must battle and overcome if indeed Nigeria must enjoy the dividends of democracy.
This came on the heels of a statement made by the President of Igbo Leaders of Thought, Prof. Ben Nwabueze. According to PUNCH newspaper the professor, said corruption is not Nigeria’s primary problem and observed that the present administration’s anti-corruption campaign has relegated other serious national challenges to the background.
Reacting to the statement, the Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, noted that the group believes corruption is the biggest problem the country is facing and there is an urgent need to tackle the menace because, if corruption is combated frontally, it would definitely put an end to the many other challenges facing us as a nation. Though corruption as a concept has broad definition; so there is no society that can be entirely corrupt-free but it can be reduced to a minimum.
Adeniran said, “Corruption has become a way of life in Nigeria and the country is deemed to be so corrupt to the extent that even corruption is scared of us. Corruption has virtually become the second nature of the average Nigerian and the level of impunity going on in the country is disheartening. The question of illiteracy, poverty and security was borne out of corruption and that should inform the need for Federal Government to address the endemic problem.
Speaking further, Adeniran asserted that no sustainable democratic culture and development could be established as long as our No. 1 enemy, corruption, thrives and CACOL has decided not to relent but remain in the vanguard of the forces fighting against this seemingly untamable monster that had overtime assumed the overbearing status of an albatross that has constantly been threatening the very existence of this nation and are urging all well-meaning citizens of this country to join hands with President Buhari in this battle for national survival.
The anti-corruption crusader noted that the Federal Government has demonstrated some political will to combat corruption and however opined that the regime still need more political will to engender public-will with a view to developing the synergy between the government and members of the public to enhance the trust of the people.
“The Buhari that we know is an epitome of discipline and we believe that he can give corruption its biggest fight in Nigeria. The President needs that revolutionary spirit in him to succeed in the anti-graft war because there are many bobby traps in the system he just need to avoid stepping into. He should not behave as a politician but as a revolutionary soldier on a special mission to rescue the nation,” Adeniran advised.
In conclusion Adeniran stressed that we should also not forget that Nigerians voted for the change mantra of the present ruling party. They would have to do everything they need to, in fighting against corruption in clear departure of what the previous government was criticized for.
Temitope Macjob
Acting Media Officer, CACOL
temitope@thehumanitycentre.org
28th October, 2015.
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