BY BRIGHT JACOB
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre and Transparency International, Nigeria has condemned the appointment and nomination of individuals with alleged corruption and questionable integrity into leadership positions within political parties, the executive and legislative arms of the government.
In a statement signed on Sunday by the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa, the organisations expressed concerns about the potential impact of these appointments on the morale of anti-corruption agencies in the country.
The statement reads in part, “The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Transparency International Nigeria would like to use this medium to express our total disappointment over the appointment and nomination of some people believed to be corrupt and with questionable integrity into leadership positions at political party level, the executive and the legislative arms of government.
“We are worried about the effect that such ill-thought actions will have on the morale of anti-corruption agencies in the country.”
The groups said despite ongoing investigations by anti-graft agencies at the state and federal levels, some individuals with significant corruption allegations against them have been chosen to lead the ruling political party and are being considered for ministerial positions.
“A scenario where an individual who has a very substantial corruption allegation against him is made to lead the ruling political party is worrisome .This is happening despite ongoing investigations by anti-graft agencies both at the state and federal level against some of these individuals.
“We find it appalling that some of the names sent by the President to the National Assembly to be screened for ministerial positions have corruption-related cases to answer with the anti-graft agencies.
“Going by this list, the President will correctly be perceived as showing lack of care about integrity in governance and turning a deafening ear to public outcry on key issues, especially the fight against corruption.
“The ministerial list sent to the Senate proves that we are reversing the gains made in our anti-corruption efforts since our return to democracy in 1999.
“For example, the list has an ex-governor internationally accused of aiding a former military ruler to launder Nigeria’s wealth abroad.
“It is also disturbing that a politician who has a case to answer with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is at the leadership of the National Assembly and will be conducting oversight duties on anti-graft agencies, including the EFCC.
“Nigeria’s reputation in the global community is going to suffer negative consequences with the incredible damage the acts like money laundering, drugs trafficking , merchant of violence and illegal proliferation of arms have done to our country which has contributed and will continue widening insecurity, poverty, collapse of education, health care infrastructural development and ethics and value system,” it added.
CISLAC and TI Nigeria, however, called on citizens and well-meaning Nigerians to persistently demand transparency, accountability, and responsible leadership to be firmly established in public offices.
“We find it very sad that young Nigerians will have no positive lesson to learn from these corrupt leaders. Citizens and well-meaning Nigerians must continue to demand that transparency, accountability and responsible leadership be institutionalised in our public offices,” the statement concluded.
