Group takes anti-Corruption campaign to Aguluezechukwu, wants indigenes to promote accountability
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
In a bid to promote transparency and accountability, a coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) and media groups has taken an anti-corruption campaign to Aguluezechukwu community in Aguata Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The initiative, spearheaded by the CSO Media Accountability and Anti-Corruption Initiative, aims to sensitize the public on the ills of corruption and its far-reaching consequences on the society.
The campaign is part of the Rule of Law and Anti-corruption (RoLAC) Phase II component three programme supported by the European Union and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) in Nigeria.
Addressing the people at Lucy Ezeifeoma Memorial Podium of the St Peters Catholic Church, Aguluezechukwu, the team lead, Ugochi Freeman, described corruption as a menace that is crippling the progress and development of the society, urging them to join the fight for it’s eradication in their community.
“It’s all about corruption and the importance of transparency and accountability in governance because it is a menace that has eaten deep into the fabric of our society.
“Corruption can take many forms such as bribery, extortion, and nepotism. For example, a community member may be asked to pay a bribe to access a government service or a job.
“To identify corruption, we need to look out for signs such as unfair treatment, favouritism, and lack of transparency. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s probably corruption.
“If we see or experience corruption, we should report it. We can report to the authorities, the Media, or a trusted community leaders. Reporting corruption is a brave way to save our society.
“As community members, we have the power to say no to corruption. We can report corrupt practices, demand transparency, and hold our leaders accountable. We are the eyes and ears of our community.
To achieve these, we need to imbibe good moral values such as honesty, integrity, and fairness which are the foundation of a just and equitable society. These values are learnt at young age and it is the responsibility of us in our families and communities to promote them.
Ugochi reminded them that fighting corruption requires collective effort and urged them to commit to active citizenship to promote accountability and transparency in all they do. She also urged them to escalate the message to their families and friends to tame corruption in the society.
The campaign which drew participants including community leaders, youth groups, and market women, featured interactive question and answer sessions and distribution of anti-corruption materials.
