Don pushes for death penalty over corrupt practices

‎The Rector of Kogi state Polytechnic, Professor Salihu  Ogbo Usman has called for constitutional review and amendment that will introduce Capital  punishment,including death penalty against corruption and corrupt practices in the country. ‎ ‎Professor Usman made the call on Wednesday while delivering the 37th inaugural  lecture of the Federal University Lokoja ,with the  title: “Corruption […]

‎The Rector of Kogi state Polytechnic, Professor Salihu  Ogbo Usman has called for constitutional review and amendment that will introduce Capital  punishment,including death penalty against corruption and corrupt practices in the country.
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‎Professor Usman made the call on Wednesday while delivering the 37th inaugural  lecture of the Federal University Lokoja ,with the  title: “Corruption Versus Corruption: Unpacking the Wuru-Wuru of Anti-Corruption Crusade in Nigeria”.
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‎The Don noted that  all segments of Nigeria’s socio-political  and economic spectrum are  corrupt, with a spill over in  moral decadence,  lose of values and low  esteem of the nationals within and outside  the country.
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‎Professor Usman stressed that corruption has degraded the identity of Nigeria and its citizens to such a low level that some African countries are holding “Nigeria Must Go” protests.
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‎He said some European leaders also took advantage of endemic corruption to address their interest in the country by stigmatising  the nation  with  derogatory remarks :  “Nigeria has a fantastic relationship with corruption,  “the poverty headquarters of Africa”,  “Shithole” and “country of particular concern”.
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‎”This is a sad reminder of a nation, Nigeria, who prides herself as the giant of Africa, has been reduced to a stumbling giant due to corruption and mismanagement of her valuable natural resources to the point that its citizens face threats and deportation not from developed countries but from neighboring African nations that are less endowed in comparison”, he said.
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‎Professor Usman added  that for the country to fight a successful battle against corruption, it should adopt the style of
‎ many countries with low corruption perception indices which retain capital punishment within their criminal justice systems .
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‎Also, he advocated for the establishment of a Centres or Institutes for the Study of Corruption within Nigerian universities ; called on Nigerians to  shun politicisation of the prerogative of mercy by the executive for individuals convicted of corruption-related offences ; and harps on  adoption of  traditional oath-taking mechanisms to  be adapted and institutionalized.
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‎”The contemporary oath-taking system defers accountability to the hereafter.
‎Nigeria can be fixed before the hereafter through constitutional provisions mandating the incorporation of indigenous oath-taking systems”, he said.
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In his remarks, the vice chancellor of federal university Lokoja, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi says the timing of the lecture is apt since the country continues to wrestle with the challenge of corruption and its contradictions.
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‎He said: “The theme before us speaks directly to our lived realities. It invites us to look beyond slogans and headlines, and to examine the structures, motives and practices that shape our anti-corruption efforts.
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‎”More importantly, it reminds us that the fight against corruption is not the duty of government alone. As a University, and as academics, we must be ready and committed to contribute our quota to nip corruption in the bud.
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‎”Through our teaching, our research, our administrative conduct, and our daily interactions, we must model integrity, transparency, and accountability. We must raise a generation that not only condemns corruption in words, but rejects it in practice”.
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‎Equally, the kogi state governor, Usman Ahmed Ododo described  the 37th Inaugural Lecture of the federal university as an important moment for the  reflection on Nigeria’s governance challenges.
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‎The governor who was represented by his deputy , Comrade Joel Salifu noted that corruption continues to hurt the nation by weakening institutions and slowing development.
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‎He said : “The fight against corruption must be sincere and open; when it is driven by politics or personal interests, it loses public trust”.
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‎The Governor assured the Federal University Lokoja of continued support and partnership, stating that education, research, and knowledge remain powerful tools in the fight against corruption, ignorance, and underdevelopment