Youth And Anti-Corruption Crusade

The youths are surely the future leaders of our great
nation, Nigeria. However, corruption has been the canker worm that is fast eating up every good thing that our youths stand for.
Therefore, there is a serious need for the accountability, transparency, good governance, service delivery and honesty to be inculcated into the minds and hearts if potential leaders of our great nation Nigeria.
Due to how deep corruption has eaten into the nation’s fabric, Nigeria has been baptized as one of the most corrupt nation in the world by the Transparency International. Such ranking is very embarrassing and a disgrace to the giant of Africa as well as well-meaning Nigerians. It also passes a great danger to her socio-economic and political life as we are already experiencing. The nation is in serious need of deliverance from the evil of corruption.
Although the concept of corruption has various perspectives, the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP), in its report on fighting corruption to improve governance views corruption as, “the misuse of public powers, office and authority for private gain through bribery, extortion, influence peddling, nepotism, fraud, money or embezzlement.
The effects of corruption have been very hard on the people, society and the economy of the country.
Some of these effects includes: lack of quality in service, lack of fair justice, unemployment, poor health and hygiene, lack of faith and trust in the government, lack of development and growth, decrease in foreign investment, to mention but a few.
Corruption is indeed, an ugly and dirty social stain on the nation which both her past and present leaders are struggling to erase but proving hard and difficult. It poses serious threat to the stability and security of our country and jeopardizing sustainable development and rule of law. It is high time the youths take up the responsibility of saving this nation from this deadly ‘virus’, called corruption.
To be able to effectively fight corruption, the youths must first understand the root cause of corruption before they can conveniently combat it. Among the root causes are; greed, avarice, distorted social values, weak law enforcement system, poor remuneration of workers, lack of genuine fear of God, and insensitivity on the part of leaders.
Besides, the youth must start with themselves, they must display self discipline and self control in all their action, including the fear of God and must shun corruption.
When faced with the opportunity they must learn to call a spade a spade and nothing else. They must also learn to deal fearly and justly and always seek justice through non-violent means.
In short the youths should be good ambassadors of accountability, transparency, good governance wherever they find themselves.
By putting these principles into practice and with absolute faith in God, no matter what, they will succeed.
John is of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt.

Tagwana John