From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Businessman and transporter, Chief Godwin Ubaka Okeke has called on the political class and all public office holders to shun corruption and all corrupt tendencies so as to save Nigeria’s economy from total collapse.
Okeke who is the Chairman of G.U.O Transport made the call at his Onitsha home yesterday while disclosing activities marking his 76th birthday and that of his wife, Patricia’s 71st birthday. He noted that corruption had crippled the country’s development, economic growth and infrastructure renewal.
He declared support for Peter Obi’s recent statement where he reportedly called for life jail or capital punishment for people convicted of corruption charges in public spaces.
Chief Okeke, while supporting such stiffer punishment for corruption said it was only such a drastic measure that could turn the country around and move it away from the corruption virus that has eaten deep into its fabric.
He cited China as an example of a country that applies such capital punishment for corruption and noted that their economy had always boomed because the people are always conscious of the consequences of pilfering public funds.
He lamented that Nigeria, instead of fighting and eradicating corruption, has been glamourising it through the lavish lifestyle of some public office holders and the lacklustre method of anti-corruption fight in the country.
“We believe that Nigeria is a blessed country. God loves us because He gave us many natural resources in abundance. Unfortunately, some people are neck-deep in stealing, robbing the generality of Nigerians for their own selfish ends. We see people stealing billions and now moving into trillions. We need to come out in full to protect and save the Nigerian economy from the stranglehold of corruption. Starting from the federal to state and local government authorities, including the civil servants. For how long shall we continue to keep quiet while this anomaly continues?
“During the time of election, they share money, rice and other materials and people clap for them but when they get into power, the people continue to suffer. Corruption has made it impossible to solve the energy challenge in Nigeria till today and companies are relocating from Nigeria because of power supply,” he lamented.
He tasked public officials on transparency, accountability and selfless service, challenging the masses to reinvent the power of their votes once more through the ballot, which can enthrone corrupt-free individuals into office.