Fifty prominent Civil Society Organizations across Nigeria have collectively called upon the ruling All Progressives Congress and other political parties to take a decisive stance against their members facing corruption allegations. In a bid to bolster the fight against corruption, these CSOs have urged political parties to denounce and disassociate from any member currently under investigation for corrupt practices.
The CSOs expressed their concerns at a press conference held in Abuja. Among those voicing the position of Nigeria’s civil society were Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre/Transparency International Nigeria; Professor Jibrin Ibrahim, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development; and Mr. Chido Onumah, Executive Director of the African Centre for Media and Information Literacy.
“We urge the ruling All Progressives Congress and other political parties to take decisive action in purging their ranks by denouncing and breaking support with their members who are currently being investigated by anti-corruption agencies. This can be operationalized by suspending all members tainted by corruption allegations and ensuring they are held accountable before the law,” the CSOs stated.
The CSOs also criticized President Bola Tinubu for what they perceived as enabling corruption. They highlighted the detrimental effects of appointing politicians facing corruption allegations to prominent positions, stating that such actions undermine anti-corruption efforts and sabotage the integrity of the democratic process.
“It is distressing to see people facing corruption allegations being appointed by the President to handle various positions of authority. Today, many serving lawmakers and ministers have corruption allegations against them. This is producing a culture of impunity, where politicians engage in corrupt practices without fear of consequences. This has eroded public trust in the government and undermined the legitimacy of the democratic process,” the CSOs noted.
The CSOs emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in fostering democracy. They lamented that Nigeria’s democracy has often operated under a veil of secrecy and lawlessness, hindering its potential for true progress.
In addition to their concerns about political interference, the CSOs also highlighted the challenges posed by judicial corruption to anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria. They pointed out instances where the judiciary’s actions have allegedly been influenced by corrupt individuals, thereby impeding the progress of corruption investigations and prosecutions.
The CSOs also expressed worry over the inadequate budgetary allocations to key anti-corruption agencies, which they believe are deliberate attempts to weaken these institutions. They criticized what they saw as a concerted effort by corrupt individuals to undermine the work of anti-corruption agencies and mislead the public about their effectiveness.
The CSOs called for a cohesive strategy to address corruption comprehensively, emphasizing the need for accountability across all sectors of government. They urged the National Judicial Council to monitor its members diligently and remove any corrupt judicial officers compromising the judicial system.
“To truly establish a flourishing democracy, transparency and accountability must be strictly adhered to in governance,” the CSOs concluded.
The press conference was attended by representatives from various CSOs, including the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Centre for Democracy and Development, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy, and many others. These CSOs collectively signed the written address, underscoring their commitment to combating corruption and promoting good governance in Nigeria.
