A non-governmental organisation in Nigeria, Open Africa Foundation has called for Nigeria to build on integrity and strengthen the legal and institutional frameworks in the fight against Corruption in the country.
The Chairman, of Open Africa Foundation, Mr. Tunji Aworinde, made the call at the 8th annual conference on Financial Crime, Cross-Border Crime and Governance Integrity in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.
Mr. Aworinde also said this will inculcate the culture of indiscipline, and political stability and earn respect for Nigeria among Nations.
“Corruption is seen as an insidious plague that has a wide range of adverse effects on the society, it undermines a country’s democracy and the rule of law, violates human rights, and can erode the quality of life which poses threats to human security”. Mr Aworinde said.
The Chairman of Open Africa Foundation, Mr. Tunji Aworinde, also said that it is ultimately important to identify the underlying causes and design strategies to address them entails an active engagement from all citizens and the society.
“The greatest challenge we have as a nation is that of governance. The political leaders and those occupying high offices in the land have been very poor in the way they have governed this country. The nation is in a terrible state and we have to find a way out. The problems in our country are not natural disasters, they are man-made, corruption is man-made, impunity is man-made, and hunger is man-made. The solutions to these challenges are in our hands. The solution is this, we must all resolve from the pains and sufferings inflicted on us to change the narrative. I do tell people that very few citizens of many nations are going to accept the pains and sufferings that our ruling classes are inflicting on us as Nigerians. We can go to the streets, I’m not suggesting armed insurrection, but let us all rise that the status quo is no longer acceptable”, he said.
According to Mr. Aworinde, the conference is aimed at identifying common crimes, proffering solutions and the right policy options.
“The conference is dedicated to the promotion of the rule of law in Nigeria. It is aimed at identifying common crimes, and deviant behaviours besetting and terrorism financing, electoral fraud; and violence, among others. These crimes, together with poor and inept governance, threaten Nigeria’s existence, its economy and the well-being of citizens, making the country unattractive for business and investments. It would enable participants the opportunity in determining the prevalence and patterns of these crimes, proffer solutions, innovations and policy options”, he noted.
The Director General, of the National Institute of Police Studies, Professor Olu Ogunsakin stressed that everyone has the responsibility to contribute to the building block of integrity and good governance.
“The making of you starts from home the essence of accountability, and transparency is based on individual values that are inculcated in you by your parents then when you now get into a position where you are being led by policies practices and procedures you need to follow those but those will influence the outcome of your decisions when you manage yourself well then you can manage the country as well. So there is a disparity in your values and what can do as an individual when you get into that position. We need to rewrite back to who we are those media values that we are raised with as quite important in who we become and how we lead us”, he stressed.
In a related development, Pastor Ibrahim Maigadi of the Seventh Day Adventist Church said Nigeria leaders and all Nigerians must imbibe the character of integrity and follow after those who have lived in the same manner.
“I have written a book called Finishing Well, it examined 34 Africans who lived a life of integrity and have laid the foundation for us. We need to look up to some people like role models. I look at Tafawa Balewa, Nigeria’s former prime minister, how can such a man not have a house? That is true integrity we are talking about. People who won’t be there for themselves but for the people and display integrity at its highest level. I am one person that believes we should encourage transparency in our country, we encourage Nigerians and political leaders to imbibe the character of accountability, all hope is not lost”, he said.
The three-day Conferences, organised by the Open Africa Foundation in collaboration with the Forensic Insight International and Summit Leadership Institute drew people from different sectors of the Nation to the chat way forward to integrity and good governance.
Dominica Nwabufo
