Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in Nigeria has challenged President Bola Tinubu not to appoint anyone having any corruption related allegations into his cabinet.
Speaking at a press briefing, the CSOs Spokesman, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafisajani), alleged that “unlike President Mu- hammadu Buhari, the newly sworn-in President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, does not seem to have the issue of anti-corruption as a priority on his agenda, despite the fact that corruption has eaten deeper into every sector of our society and is crippling the country like an epidemic.”
The CSOs’ clarion call is coming barely days after the appointment of 20 advisers and less than 24 hours to the appointment of service chiefs and dissolution of board of government agencies and parastatals.
According to him, “From his campaigns to his manifesto, the president has not shown to Nigerians his anti-corruption agenda and clear plans on how his administration intends to fight corruption.”
He, however, urged Mr President to publicly and immediately declare commitment to the fight against corruption with a view to give confidence to Nigerians and international community as well as investors, that “his government is not going to be populated with crooks, criminals and people with allegations of corruption and people who have bought their ways and captured power for personal use.”
Mr Rafisajani, who doubles as Head of Transparency International – Nigeria and Exec- utive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), maintained that “President Bola Tinubu should declare serious commitment and action; it’s not just to make the talk but to follow it with action.
“And this include ensuring that people with corruption allegations, people that are under investigation are not even considered for any appointments. If he does that, he’s going to send a wrong signal to the international community and to Nigerians that the business (of corruption) will go as usual.”
While noting that Nigeria is rated as the most corrupt country in West Africa, alongside Guinea Bissau, he maintained that corruption has undermined our value system, integrity and rule of law.