The President and founder, Vision Africa International and Co-Chair Interfaith Dialogue forum for Peace, Bishop Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha, has reacted to the latest ranking by the Global anti-corruption coalition, Transparency International, which placed Nigeria 154 out of 180 corrupt countries in the world.
In the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index released by the TI on Tuesday, Nigeria dropped five places, scoring 24 out of 100 points in the index. Nigeria was also rated the second most corrupt country in West Africa, after Guinea.
Reacting to the development via a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday, titled “I Hope Corruption Does Not Kill Nigeria”, Bishop Dr. Onuoha wondered why corruption in Nigeria has continued to be a hydra headed monster despite pledges made by past and current administrations to fight it to a standstill.
The cleric who attested to the fact that corruption in Nigeria is fought only on paper, stated that there are whole lot of issues that have been swept under the carpet revealing that failure of the government to prosecute those found culpable, has continued to paint Nigeria in bad light as well as draw International condemnation.
He particularly called on public office holders to adopt new approach in their dealings with the masses who elected them, stressing that their inability to run their offices with openness by giving the people what is due them has further fuelled agitations among the people who see themselves as being short changed by those they elected to represent their interests.
The Global Peace Award Winner 2013, expressed hope that Nigeria and her people can still turn a corrupt free country if those at the helm of affairs disengage in selective corruption trial of few individuals while exonerating others accused of corruption, adding that if the country can adopt a more holistic approach in the fight, the country can save herself from this dent and embarrassment of being named always as a corrupt nation.
