Kehinde Olaosebikan, former Chief Press Secretary to former Oyo State Governor, Lam Adesina, has called on Nigerian youths and the media to save the country from the scourge of corruption.
In a press release made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Sunday, Olaosebikan urged them to use the platform of the monthly publication of revenue allocation to the states and the 774 local governments to track activities of office holders.
“The major problem militating against the growth of Nigeria is corruption. Sadly, this has become endemic in all facets of our society. Corruption exists within the three tiers of government and the private sector,’’ he said.
Olaosebikan noted that now the interest of the people in working in the public and private sectors was enrichment rather than adding value.
“The situation is so bad that students are no longer looking forward toward the time when it will be their turn to serve or lead the nation. They now wait with pride for the time it will be their turn to loot the treasury.
“For us to get out of the dungeon of corruption, we need a revolution and the time for it is now,’’ the former press secretary said.
Olaosebikan, however, advocated for a bloodless revolution saying, “there must be a fight against corruption through massive revolution without shedding of blood.’’
Explaining further, he said that the government had empowered the citizens with tools to fight corruption and bring about the much needed change without any bloodletting.
Olaosebikan called on the mass media to sensitise the people more on government activities in the fight against corruption.
He said that with the FOI Act and the monthly publication of revenue allocation to the three tiers of government, Nigerians could track the budget and government’s spending.
The former aide added: “With these, Nigerians are in position to track how funds move in and out of the treasury and deal with corruption and fraud. Nigerians, particularly the youths, should rise to the challenge.’’ (NAN)
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