By Sam Eyoboka
VICE President Yemi Osinbajo; Archbishop Emeritus, Anthony Cardinal Okogie; former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi; Delta and Lagos governors, Mr. Ifeanyi Okowa and Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, were unanimous in their believe that churches and other religious organisations have vital roles to play in the war against corruption.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary of
Anthony Cardinal Okogie Foundation lecture at St Agnes Catholic Church,
Maryland, Lagos, the guests and the current Catholic Archbishop, Most Rev.
Alfred Adewale Martins, agreed that
unless Nigerians unite now to kill corruption, the monster would soon kill
Nigeria. Vice President Osinbajo, who spoke through his Special Adviser on
Anti-Corruption, Prof.
Bolaji Owasanoye, said Nigeria had
enough resources for the nation’s needs but not enough for the greed of corrupt
leaders, most of whom are often accommodated by the religious organisations
without asking for the sources of their wealth.
Osinbajo outlined three cardinal
ingredients that fuel corruption in the country, including: “the culture of
silence, saying if we fail to speak out against corruption, we won’t go
anywhere; the culture of sycophancy or praise singing and the celebration of
impunity” arguing that religious organisations are better placed to address
such matters. Earlier in his 40-minute guest lecture entitled:
Creating a corruption-free society:
The role of the Church, Mr. Peter Obi who argued that Nigeria, which started
economic voyage with China, Malaysia, South Korea and some others is currently
lagging behind, said corruption has crept into every facet of the nation’s
life, predicting that the nation cannot grow if we continue to tolerate
corruption. In his remarks,
Cardinal Okogie said Nigerians
cannot win the war against corruption except the every person sees corruption
as a decimal not only in Nigeria but the whole world and that it does not even
spare the schools, families and the Church, the judiciary nor politicians.
The Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev.
Adewale Martins also urged Nigerians to go beyond prayers in the fight against
corruption, urging them to imbibe as well as practice values that witness to
honesty and nobility.
Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi
Ambode who was represented by Special Adviser on Primary Healthcare, Dr. Olufemi
Onanuga hailed Cardinal Okogie who he said had demonstrated his commitment and
unalloyed passion for the poor in the society, praying that God should continue
to preserve him to fearlessly defend the cause of the down trodden.
His Delta State counterpart, Dr.
Ifeanyi Okowa was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Tam Brisbe was also
of the view that unless the nation moves away from the current corrupt culture
and develop other economic choices the future of Nigeria is blink.