Kayode Oladele, a former member of the house of representatives, says it is impossible to stop corruption in the country without the involvement of civil society organisations (CSOs) and the citizens.
In a statement to mark the International anti-corruption day, Oladele urged the public to take ownership of the fight against corruption by supporting the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies.
The former lawmaker said fighting corruption without the involvement of the people and civil society organisations is like trying to control flood and erosion with fences made of palm.
Oladele added that corrupt people do not live in another planet with different physiologies and other physical characteristics that differentiate them from the rest of the society.
“Corruption is a formidable enemy of progress and in reality, it can be said to have much of its roots in society because virtually nothing moves in our society without one form of corruption or the other, ranging from petty to grand corruption — looting of natural resources like petroleum products, bunkering, etc; judicial corruption; human rights violations; all types of anti-people and retrogressive policies, destruction and looting of public assets and systems such as health, education, and others,” he said.
“Because of corruption, people are compelled to pay for services that should be free.
“The EFCC act in section 6 also empowers the commission to carry out and sustain rigorous public and enlightenment campaigns against economic and financial crimes within and outside Nigeria and carry out such other activities as are necessary or expedient for the full discharge of all or any of the functions conferred on it under the act while section 12 gives the EFCC power to set up any committee as may be necessary to assist the commission in the performance of its duties and functions under the act.
“Also, our National Anti-corruption Strategy rests on five pillars, namely: Prevention of Corruption, enforcement and Sanctions, public engagement, campaign for ethical reorientation and recovery of proceeds of corruption.
“These provisions become necessary in view of the fact that awareness on the part of the public is important for the works of the EFCC and the ICPC.
“It is also aimed at building public support for anti-corruption war and to ensure that apart from punishing corruption, efforts should be made by the anti-graft institutions to prevent corruption, to educate the civil society on how to resist corruption and manage the risk. People expect their leaders to carry out their duties with a high degree of honesty and accountability.”
