Gov's aide advises citizens not to shield corrupt officers

Titus Zam, Special Adviser to Gov Samuel Ortom of Benue on Bureau for Local Government, has advised Nigerians not to shield corrupt people in their midst.

He gave the advice on Monday in Adikpo, headquarters of Kwande Local Government Area during Citizens Engagement Forum organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Represented by Mrs Juliana Or, the Director, Local Government Affairs, Zam urged the Nigerians to expose corrupt people.

He noted that corruption does not only destroy the economy, it also causes hardship for the masses.

In his remarks, ICPC chairman, Mr Ekpo Nta, called on Nigerians to rise up and take decisive action against corruption instead of remaining silent or neutral when the few fraudulent people in their midst are perpetrating corruption.

Represented by Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, the Commissioner of Public Enlightenment at ICPC, Nta said that anybody that keeps silent and fail to take action against corruption is encouraging the act.

“The need to wage war against corruption is because it denies us almost everything good including the future that we hope for,” he said.

To eradicate corruption, Nta stressed the need for Nigerians to speak with one voice and declare that the country needed credible, responsible and incorruptible leaders who would discharge their duties creditably.

“Based on the foregoing, the commission is using this forum to communicate the importance of integrity, accountability, transparency and building robust citizens’ network against corruption,” he said.

Chief Hillary Ikima, the Chairman, Kwande LGA Traditional Council, promised to spread the lessons learnt from the forum to his people.

The Coordinator, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the area, Rev. Terwase Ayambo, and the Sole Administrator of the local government, Mr Daniel Orngu, pledged to partner ICPC to eradicate corruption from the local government.