Anti-Corruption
Revolution (ANCOR), a non-governmental organisation, has declared that
it will be difficult for the Federal Government and its agencies to
curb corruption in the country, considering the involvement of high
profile Nigerians in corrupt practices.
The National
Publicity Secretary of the group, Amitolu Shittu who decried the high
rate of corruption in the country, said the menace of corruption could
not be curbed in the country due to poor accountability on the part of
those in position of authority.
Delivering a
lecture on “Effective Secured Environment and Human Rights: The Threat
of Corruption and Financial Crimes”, at a seminar organised by the Osun
State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC),
Mr Shittu advised Nigerians to desist from using politics as a means of
getting undue wealth. The seminar was organised in collaboration with
Brains Exchange Communications Network for security agents, hoteliers
and top civil servants in Oshogbo.
The most corrupt Nigerians
According to him,
“the highest corruption in Nigeria is in the corridors of power as
indicated by the number of state governors and local government
chairmen that have so far been investigated by the ICPC and EFCC.
Contracts are executed and re-executed on countless times, monies given
to public officers for their respective populace, organisations and
various sectors are diverted to personal accounts and most times,
laundered into foreign accounts.” He identified poor leadership,
inadequate funding of law enforcement and anti- corruption agencies,
absence of comprehensive data base and lack of proper reform of public
sector as the bane of development in the country.
He also urged
security agencies in the country to discharge their duty without fear
or favour, adding that they should ensure that nobody is above the law.
According to him,
“the unfortunate phenomenon of corruption in Nigeria needs to be fought
to a standstill because everybody knows that it is a clog in the wheel
of socio-political and economic progress of the nation.” “My humble
submission in this regard is that the culture of impunity in government
and governance must stop and this can only be so if there is more
transparency, more visibility and even more openness in our conduct of
the affairs of government. At all times, government must be accountable
to the governed and the governed must also demand for accountability,
openness, transparency and visibility in very clear, specific and
unambiguous terms,” he added.
