Delta NUJ chairman gives recipe for fighting corruption

Mike Ikeogwu, chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has stated that the fight against corruption will remain a futility if professionals who ought to be gatekeepers in both private and public sphere are not carried along by the government and policy makers.

He made the assertion during a lecture he delivered at the 2017 Annual General Meeting (AGM) organized by the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN) which held at the Nigerian Institute of Surveyors (NIS) Secretariat in Uvwie local government area of Delta state.

Ikeogwu said it is a “misnomer” for policy makers to jettison professionals in their plans to fight against corruption because of their privileged position in facilitating the day to day running of the country particularly the private and public sector.

He noted that Nigerian leaders thrive on corrupt practices, promote corrupt acts, live in affluence with corrupt proceeds and intimidate whoever dares to challenge them with their ill-gotten wealth.

Ikeogwu who described corruption as any dishonest or illegal behaviour, especially of people in authority/privileged position for personal aggrandizement, also stated that virtually every sector of the Nigerian economy has been compromised hence the rot in the system that have given rise to high profile corruption and corrupt Nigerians walking shoulder high on the street of our dear country.

He pointed out that successive governments have continued to invent and re-invent more sophisticated ways of siphoning our common heritage.

“These days, they have exploited through over-bloated contracts, abandoned projects, non-standard projects, adulterated products, security vote, jumbo pay and allowances, election rigging, the list can go on and on.

“Appointments into strategic public offices are often over-politicized both at Federal and State levels. “Known perpetrators of frauds often become godfathers who sponsor candidates into elected offices. “Some end up being appointed into exalted offices by those they sponsored while the few patriotic and credible leaders are either shown the way out or are frustrated if they refuse to identify with the bandwagon effect.”