Group Seeks Holistic Approach To Fight Corruption

A group known as the National Movement for Defence of Democracy and Good Governance (NMDDGG) has urged the Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to combat corruption holistically irrespective of ethnicity, religion, geographic location or societal status.

The president of the group, Mr. Goldie Akpama, who made the call in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria during a press conference with some journalists, expressed concern about what he described as “the discernible bias in dispensing justice and the evident gender disparities prevailing in Nigeria’s political landscape.”

He reasoned that the fight against corruption should be based on the principles of equity, justice and fairness as well as impartiality, urging the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and investigate serving political office holders already indicted for misappropriation of public funds worth billions.

The group’s leader Akpama said “the disconcerting reality is that our daughter faces repercussions for a comparatively trivial sum, while others enjoy unhindered freedom despite facing monumental accusations. This exposes a disturbing pattern of gender bias and selective application of justice against women actively engaged in politics.”

He emphasized that the standards of justice and fairness must be equally applicable to all Nigerians, urging “the time has come for our nation to transcend the shackles of sentiment-driven politics, ushering in an era where justice is impartial and equality prevails.”

According to him, the group intended to hold a peaceful street procession to formally submit a petition “emphasizing our insistence on equal treatment before the law, however the press conference was truncated with the arrival of persons suspected to be policemen, who arrested and detained for two hours”.

Olusola Akintonde