Okei-Odumakin group issues red card to corruption

The Movement Against Corruption (MAC) said on Sunday that it is poised to prevent and eradicate all forms of corrupt practices and abuse of power in both public and private sectors in the country, declaring that Nigerians had suffered immeasurably from corruption and the time to give the menace a red card was now.

Chairman of MAC, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin, made the declaration at a world press conference in Ikeja, Lagos, saying that Nigerians would no longer ignore the prevailing mass poverty, hunger, unemployment, decayed medical and educational systems, etc. which were indicators of the damaging effects of corruption in the country.

This was just as she disclosed that MAC, comprising of over 50 groups, would hold marches with the theme: “Red Card Against Corruption,” in Lagos and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) simultaneous on August 30, 2017.

“We hereby want to intimate the general public that as part of our action plans, we shall be holding a march against corruption with the theme: “Red Card Against Corruption,” on the 30th day of August, 2017 in Lagos and Abuja.

“And today marks the beginning of our 10 day-countdown to this historic march against corruption in our country. The countdown period shall be used to sensitize Nigerians ahead of the scheduled August 30th date of the rally,” she said.

According to her, the Lagos rally shall take off from Ikeja by 7:30am while that of Abuja shall take off from Unity Fountain simultaneously, saying these shall be followed by similar marches across cities in the country at later dates to be announced soon.

She, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to join in the forthcoming rallies to send a message to all tiers and organs of government in Nigeria, saying, “We must resist the temptation to remain silent while corruption eroded the country’s basic values.”

Speaking further, Okei- Odumakin said: “In achieving this patriotic objective, the MAC is determined to sensitise Nigerians on the immediate need to possess ownership of the war against corruption in the country, by getting involved in advocacy, and educate each other on the cancerous effect of corruption on our polity.”

“In actualising our ambition of leading this crusade against corruption in our country, we have resolved to reject any form of policy or legislation from any tier or arm of government, aimed at encouraging acts of corruption, particularly those designed to shield corrupt elements, and giving amnesty to those indicted for corrupt practices.”

“We are also determined to mobilise Nigerians to demand judicial accountability by campaigning against the increasingly slow pace of action of the judiciary in the prosecution of corruption related cases across various courts in Nigeria.”

She also said the group would encourage sponsorship of legislations that would strengthen the various anti-corruption agencies in the country, vowing that any attempt from the National Assembly at foot dragging in making legislations aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption would be rejected.

She added that MAC would galvanise the people towards an efficient anti-corruption campaign through rallies, protests, sensitisation, workshops and other forms of civic and democratic engagement.

Also speaking, Dr Hafsat Abiola-Costello, a human and civil rights campaigner and Founder of the Kudirat Initiative for Democracy (KIND), lamented that corruption had made Nigeria poor.

Abiola-Costello, who noted that Nigeria was not poor, but corruption had made her poor, recalled that, “It has been said that its either we kill corruption or corruption will kill Nigeria.”

She also said, “We will not have good leaders if we do not kill corruption. Because of that, our organisation will partner with MAC to end corruption.”

President Campaign for Democracy (CD), Mr. Usman Bako, in his remark, said his group was glad to be part of the movement, declaring that the group had a duty to generations coming behind otherwise nothing would be left for the future.

According to a member of steering committee of MAC, Mr. Sina Odugbemi, it is important Nigerians understand the meaning of red card to corruption and that the fight is not government alone, but for everyone.