Akwa Ibom Speaker advocates declaration of looted funds

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom-Emmanuel

Mr Onofiok Luke, the Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, has advocated public declaration of funds recovered from looters of the treasury in the ongoing anti-corruption war.

Luke made the call in a speech he delivered at the 3rd Annual Public Lecture in commemoration of the birthday of Bishop Emmah Isong, the General Overseer of Christian Central Chapel International in Calabar.

Speaking on the topic:“Nigeria’s Anti-Corruption War and Economic Recovery: The Connect”, he said the war was now the responsibility of all Nigerians irrespective of political, tribal or religious affiliations.

He further stressed the need for the relevant anti-corruption agencies to do due diligence in the campaign.

“The anti-corruption war has gone beyond the government. It is now a collective battle that involves all of us in words, attitude and deeds.

“And because it is a battle which involves all of us, it must not be fought with barrels of the gun. It must not be fought with incarceration of political opponents and flagrant disregard and disrespect to the rule of law.

“Rather, it must be fought with laid down intellectual strategies that aid economic recovery. Again, it must be fought in an inclusive manner with citizens as actors and not onlookers.

“Proceeds from the war must be disclosed and made public as well as returned to the national purse.’’

He urged the Federal Government to create the enabling environment for international organisations including the World Bank, African Development Bank and Transparency International to take active part in the fight.

He condemned the current media trial of alleged corrupt people, saying that it scares foreign investors from the country and impacts negatively on the foreign investment inflow into the country.

“There should be less of media trial of alleged corrupt individuals in the country. It scares away investors.

“Anybody found guilty of corruption should be made to face the law court.”

The speaker also spoke on the recent arrest of some high profile judges by the Department of State Security (DSS), describing the action as inimical to the rule of law.

“I am against corruption in all ramifications but I disagree with the mode of the arrest of the judges, ‘’ he said.

He described President Muhammadu Buhari as a man of integrity with the desire to fight corruption, but added that some politicians were hiding under the President’s integrity to evade corruption allegations.

Also speaking, Mr John Lebo, the Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly, described corruption as a monster that should be fought at all cost.

Isong, the celebrator, said that he carefully selected the topic as part of his contribution to the ongoing anti-corruption war.

“It is my own way of giving back to the society. I think that the church should also be involved in the fight against corruption,” Isong said.