Bukola Saraki urges non-partisan approach to fight against corruption 

Itse Sagay says paying lip service ridicules exercise

Senate President Bukola Saraki has sought a non-partisan to the anti-graft war as a way of redeeming Nigeria from the shackle of corruption.Saraki said this in his presentation at the opening of a two-day policy roundtable discussion on the future of the anti-corruption campaign held in Abuja and organised by the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD) in collaboration with Arewa Research and Development Project (ARDP) and the Centre for Democratic Development, Research and Training (CEDDERT).

The Senate President, who lamented the recent downward slide suffered by the country in the global corruption perception index, a development he described as worrisome and an opportunity and challenge “to redouble efforts geared towards the anti-corruption campaign,” said the report should rather make the country more determined to strengthen anti-corruption institutions and processes “so that we can fight the good fight without let or hindrance.”

He said: “The tenets of anti-corruption should be built on a platform where issues are addressed holistically and without bias.”Also, Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay, has said that paying lip service to the fight against corruption will ridicule the whole exercise.

Sagay spoke at the dialogue of organs of government on reform of justice sector and campaign against corruption with the theme: “The Imperative of Co-operation of Arms of Government in a Democratic Dispensation” jointly organised by PACAC and the Federal Ministry of Justice.He said: “Fighting corruption cannot be by lip service. You cannot be corrupt and be talking against corruption. It ridicules the whole exercise and the spirit of that struggle.

“We should purge ourselves of corruption so that we can stand on firm ground to speak.” Some might have been corrupt in the past but if you purge yourselves, then you are welcome. It ridicules the whole process when we see people waxing lyrical on anti-corruption whereas behind them, they have huge load of assets and other things, which they corruptly acquired.

“So, collaboration and co-operation is essential because we need each other to succeed. But I think I will rather work alone than work with a corrupt person who is not sincere and is just making a fool of the whole country whilst preaching like a pastor about corruption.”