A group under the aegis of Inter-Religious Coalition Against Corruption in Nigeria, ICACN, has urged traditional and religious leaders to join its fight to reduce corruption at all level of governance in Nigeria.
The group, which is committed to “Promoting Accountability and Anti-Corruption through Behaviour Change Approaches (2021 – 2024),” noted that for Nigeria’s effort against corruption to yield positive results, the greatest influencers must work closely with one another to instill moral values and norms in the people.
One of the Co-Directors of ICACN and Chairman of the Cross River State Anti-Tax Agency, Bishop Emmah Isong, noted that traditional and religious leaders were closest to the people and wielded the greatest influence on the people.
He said, “to step down our anti-corruption fight to inculcate in religious leaders messages. We notice that apart from the government attempting to fight corruption at the level of governance, religious leaders from both divides (Christian and Muslim) are very important as religious influencers.
“We speak to the minds of the people and therefore we can begin to address certain anomalies in the society. We need to see a corruption free Nigeria because corruption is the bane of our society and it is a pivot upon, which other social vices revolve,” stated Isong.
According to him, “corruption has set Nigeria behind; smaller nations have overtaken Nigeria because corruption has eaten deep into the fabrics of our society. Corruption is systemic and to fight it, we must join forces like the corrupt people do to commit crimes.”
He used the opportunity to commend the United States of America and the MacArthur Foundation for supporting Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
Impunity
The other Co-Director of ICACN, Imam Shefiu Majemu pointed out that impunity was also one of the bane of corruption in Nigeria, which has brought about moral decadence at every facet of life.
Majemu, who is also the founder of the Strength in Diversity Development Centre, was emphatic about impunity starting from the home, where parents pay more attention to material gains than the moral upbringing of their children.
He said, “parents no longer have time to care for their children rather they leave their children to the care of those, who have no moral stake in the society to raise the children. These people send the children out to do all sorts of illicit acts and they do that because there is no better person to control their actions.
“Parents need to work on themselves, on their own behaviours as husbands and wives. The school is another institution we have a lot of impunity because the teachers behaviour also is a cause for concern and examination malpractice is another sources of worry. So, these are part of the impunity we have seen in our society and this organization is trying to correct that within its limited resources,” he stated.
US support
At the unveiling of the organisation’s website “Reportmagomago.com”, a political officer at the United State Consulate General in Lagos State, south-west Nigeria, Janine Lewis said “we would be hosting the official launch of the ‘reportmagomago.com website with a reception at the US Consulate.
“Additionally, we can connect people with other agencies that promote anti-corruption activities. So, we are definitely a tool and resource; and we look forward to helping Nigeria tackle probably one of the most difficult challenges that any nation can face,” she stated.
The Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Oqua Edet and the deputy Chief of Staff to Cross River Governor, Mr. Ani Esin jointly unveiled the website with a call on government to build strong institutions as well as take the fight against corruption to primary and secondary levels.
Dominica Nwabufo
