.
Moslem and Christian clerics have urged elected leaders to shun corruption and ensure they gave good account of their stewardship while serving the people that voted them to power.
This counsel was handed down to councilors drawn from Umuahia North, Umuahia South and Ikwuano Local Government Areas of Abia state, on Saturday at a one day seminar organised by the University of Nigeria Nsukka Muslim Community in conjunction with Mambayya House of Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University, Kano.
Speaking on the theme: “Promoting Accountability and Anti-Corruption Through Behavioural Change Approaches Interfaith Meetings with Elected Representatives”, the Moslem and Christian clergymen emphasised the need for elected representatives of the people to give account of their stewardship devoid of manipulation and shun corruption.
They noted that good name is better than silver and gold, contending that corruption had eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian society and saying there should be individual and collective resolve by elected leaders to shun corruption and give account of their stewardship.
Speaking, the Chief Imam of Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia state, Dr Ibrahim Ewetola, underscored the importance of giving genuine account of one’s stewardship when in position of authority.
The Chief Imam regretted the mindset of people in the country today that one cannot serve in public places without soiling ones hands with the spoil of the office.
He noted that granted that some people had corruptly enriched themselves in position of trust, nevertheless, there were still truthful Nigerians.
He emphasised the need for elected representatives to be upright to be transparent while serving the public, noting that leaders have to take personal decision that irrespective of the level of corruption in the society, the would not join the bandwagon.
He stressed, “Why do we need to be upright; why do we need to be transparent? To what extent have you been able to uphold who you are,? What can people say about you, about your public conduct?”
