The Community Development Service (CDS) group of the National Youth Corps Service (NYCS) members serving with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recently embarked on an anti-corruption sensitisation rally in Abuja tagged “say no to corruption”. The group says the rally was held to enlighten the public on the effects of corruption to the country, ENE OSANG reports.
Speaking exclusively to Blueprint the group’s president Emmanuel Itunu, a graduate of industrial chemistry from Osun state university, and a Batch “B” corp member said they were moved to sensitize the public, as many have misunderstood the current administration’s zeal to sanitise the country.
According to Itunu, it was disappointing for Nigerians to see the ongoing probe of corrupt government officials as witch-hunt or a way of oppressing the opposition.
“Basically, this is the first anti corruption rally we will be doing as a CDS group and the reason we did this is because we the youths represents the government, we are serving corp members and we also represent the EFCC because we are in EFCC CDS group.
“We took it as a responsibility to make the world know that the fight against corruption is not a fight against opposition but about Nigeria because if we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us.
“We are not just talking about corruption in the government sector but in all areas of our lives for instance, if a medical student through some dubious means graduates with flying colours with marks he did not merit and is inducted into the profession, when such graduate go to the hospital and cannot deliver it is the people that will suffer lives would be lost in such graduate hands and then this can Jeopardise the medical institution and generally corruption in the academic sector.
He expressed dismay that some government officials embezzled monies meant to protect lives and properties in the country, noting that corruption has been seen as normal which shouldn’t be so.
“Talking about corruption in government; when money is earmarked for a project and it is embezzled, it is high level of corruption so we shouldn’t see government as silencing the opposition.
“When abnormal things becomes a normal thing and someone is trying to bring it back to normal and people start complaining then we are all in great problem,” he said.
“The previous government wasn’t sabotaged, a government who said stealing is not corruption is not sabotaged. People got tired of corruption, they wanted change and voted for it and the election was one of the transparent elections we have ever had in Nigeria.
“We are so inpatient, yes there is no light, fuel, water and other basic needs but the government is working things out. A government who is barely one year in office cannot solve the problem of sixteen years immediately. The change we clamour for must take some systematic measures, and I believe this government is going through systematic change which I know will be permanent. Things will get better I know,” he assured.
On the probe of former Security Adviser to the former President Goodluck Jonathan administration Colonel Sambo Dasuki, Itunu lamented the way the Nigerian judiciary is handling the case, saying ‘the judiciary is not helping matter’.
“This can’t happen in Egypt or countries like China. If such huge amount of money is embezzled in these countries you will be hanged right away and nothing like human rights issues. That tells the youth that such corruption won’t be tolerated but here in Nigeria the judiciary is known for prolonging cases, lingering on it to the point that people are even tired about everything,” he said.
“How can money meant for buying arms to protect lives and properties of citizens be diverted into political campaigns and personal use? I mean this is disheartening and personally I think all those linked to this arms deal shouldn’t be bailed but jailed. Somebody steal 1billion Naira and is bailed for 500million, you are making corruption lucrative, the judicial system should help us kill corruption instead of making it lucrative because it only tells youth to steal and make profit.”
Itunu assured of continuity in holding such rally, stressing that the public must constantly be reminded on the need to kill corruption, saying ‘if you don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill you’.
“We will handover this to the upcoming corp members and they will in turn hand over to those coming after them but our main objective is impacting positively on the lives of society especially younger folks through sensitization and enlightenment.
“I urge all of us to join the government fight corruption and be of help to your neighbour because when you shine your light on one person, indirectly you are shinning your light to the whole world.”
Secretary of the group Aliyu Ibrahim Adamu, a graduate of Civil Engineering from the Bayelro University Kano, said the rally was inspired by the new level of corruption in the country and the dimension it has taken, saying it is pertinent that citizens support the government on the fight against corruption.
“From the general point of view people see the fight against corruption as partisan but we the youths are supposed to be united in uplifting the nation. No matter who is involved in corruption should be prosecuted, we shouldn’t see it as a witch-hunt,” he said.
“We are also out here today to call upon the judiciary to act right because they are not doing their best. We see many senior advocates going against what the government is doing.
“We are aware many corrupt cases with many Senior Advocates backing the offenders, and this is like casting a black light on the judicial system.
He further decried that government is deviating from its campaign promises to youths, even as he is hopeful for positive change.
“I would like this administration to keep to those campaign promises to the youths because if they don’t it means they are not different from the past administrations.
“We are expecting many things from government because we are tired of hearing promises. We are tired of there will be light, there will be fuel or there will be jobs, we want to see actions.
“I want to appeal to government to include youths in governance. The way youth is defined in Nigeria is really annoying, somebody who is above 45 years calling themselves youths. Government should have programmes that youths alone will participate so that if the youths can participate in programmes that will impact positively on their lives it will be better for them,” he suggested.
Receiving the corp members the EFCC Deputy Unit Head for Enlightenment and Re-orientation Mrs. Nwanyima okanu, lauded the corp members for holding such sensitization rally.
Expressing satisfaction that Nigeria youth are beginning to understand their role and function is the structure of Nigeria, she assured of engaging the youths more in EFCC projects especially the forthcoming Clean Hand Project.
