Wadata Media and Advocacy Center (WAMAC), a Non-Governmental Organization has advocated for the death penalty for corrupt officials in Nigeria.
Zubair Abdurra’uf, Executive Director of WAMAC, disclosed on Saturday in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital during a town hall meeting organized by the group on strengthening investigative Data Journalism in the fight against corruption in Nigerian local languages.
The theme of the town hall meeting is “Good governance: A product of transparency and accountability for societal development.
He explained that corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian society, it can be stopped when individuals found guilty of corruption are completely removed from the system through capital punishment.
Abdurra’uf noted that when there is bad governance, corruption will continue to thrive.
“Corruption continues to thrive in our country and that is why we have the issues of bad governance and maladministration in Nigeria. Until the people rise and demand accountability, we won’t have any development. We can have beautiful policies and budgets but the implementation of it needs scrutiny of the people.
“The people have the right to demand accountability from the government. So, once people are not asking questions, or demanding accountability, they will continue to have a government that will not bring development in the state or country. The people should start calling on their legislators and Executives to order in a bid to have a corrupt-free administration in the Country.
“Nobody is above the law and there should be rule of law in the country. The immediate past Governor of Kogi State was invited by the anti-graft agency over alleged misappropriation of funds. I believe the anti-corruption agency will do the needful and make sure they hold anyone accountable for their stewardship in the state and also account for all the funds that were allegedly misappropriated. This will serve as a deterrent to others if anyone is found guilty.
“I think we should take a cue from China which has capital punishment for corrupt officials. I will advocate for the death penalty for any corrupt person in Nigeria because that will deter others from even engaging in any corrupt practice”.
“The problem that emanated right from the time when we were being colonized and even after the colonization it continued to manifest in the public sector.
On her part, the Guest speaker, Mrs Lola Balagbogbo, a lecturer at the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja spoke extensively on the topic “good governance a product of transparency and accountability for societal development.
“The low pace of development in Nigeria is grounded in bad and irresponsible governance, which is evidenced by the absence of transparency and accountability in the public and private sector,” Mrs Balagbogbo said.
She stressed the need for Nigeria to transition to permission-level leadership, by prioritizing citizen’s connections and needs as a move to achieve good governance.
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