Essential Ndubuisi
The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission, ICPC has lamented the embedded level of corruption in Nigeria and called on traditional rulers, religious bodies and Civil Society Organizations to partner with the commission in diminishing the ugly trend.
The Chairman of ICPC, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye made the call during a one day sensitization dialogue with traditional rulers, religious leaders and Civil Society Organizations in Anambra State at the Government House in Awka.
The event which was organized in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency, NOA, and Anambra State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, was centred on behavioral change, national ethics, constituency and executive project tracking initiative for positive behavior change.
Declaring the event opened, Professor Owasanoye, represented by a Board member of the Commission, Mr Obiora Igwedibia, described the stakeholders as character moulders, champions of integrity and moral compass who play critical roles towards development of their various communities.
Stating that corruption has short-changed a lot of Nigerians, especially the ordinary people, the ICPC boss who underscored the need for every core value of ethics and integrity policy to be imbibed, practiced and upheld, urged the traditional rulers, religious leaders and Civil Society Organizations to use their good offices in promoting ethics, values and behavior change in view of building a better Nigeria.
Speaking, the Obi of Onitsha and Chairman of Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, called for attitudinal change among the citizenry for a better society.
Igwe Achebe, represented by traditional ruler of Isseke, Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife urged the monarchs to take advantage of the lessons from the event so as to step them down to their subjects at the grassroots.
Earlier, the Anambra State Resident Anti-corruption Commissioner, Mr Godwin Oche regretted increasing tolerance for corruption and moral decadence among Nigerians, calling for deliberate actions to arrest the trend.
He urged participants to see themselves as critical stakeholders capable of turning the tide against corruption and chatting a new course for the country.
In a remark, the Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne, said the event is timely, especially in this part of the world and urged the stakeholders to help to sensitize their subjects on corruption while the Chairman of Civil Society Organizations in the state, Prince Chris Azor described the occasion as pushing the envelope of partnership, pledging his group’s readiness to work with the ICPC in fighting corruption.
