ICPC chair: Nigeria can’t achieve lasting peace Without tackling corruption
Nigeria cannot achieve lasting peace if corruption is not effectively tackled, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has said. Aliyu stated this while addressing members of the Students’ Anti-Corruption Club at Yahaya Abdulkarim Girls Day Secondary School in Sokoto, on Tuesday. He said […]
Nigeria cannot achieve lasting peace if corruption is not effectively tackled, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has said.
Aliyu stated this while addressing members of the Students’ Anti-Corruption Club at Yahaya Abdulkarim Girls Day Secondary School in Sokoto, on Tuesday.
He said Nigeria could not have a peaceful society if corruption was allowed to flourish, stressing that the fight against corruption must go beyond arrests, investigations and prosecutions.
According to him, both the structural and behavioural problems associated with corruption must be tackled, while children should be taught honesty, discipline and punctuality because they are the country’s future leaders.
“We need to tackle both structural and behavioural problems in our fight against corruption. Therefore, we must start with our children by teaching them honesty, discipline and punctuality because they are the future leaders of this country,” he said.
The ICPC chairman urged teachers to inculcate good morals in young people, lead by example and do their very best to build children to be strong, courageous and resilient, describing teachers as critical to shaping the nation’s future.
“We should educate them that whenever they see something that is wrong, they should report. Show them good conduct and make sure that you lead by example. Children easily emulate whatever we do and tend to perceive it as a right thing,” he added.
Aliyu also advised the students to study hard and shun examination malpractice, noting that they would one day occupy positions of authority.
He reminded them that the Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Musa, is one of the school’s alumni.
“I learnt that the Minister of Defence, Rtd. General Christopher Musa, is one of the school alumni, so there is no limit to what you can achieve,” he said.
He further encouraged the students, saying they did not have to come from a wealthy family to become leaders in the country, noting that he himself was raised in a poor family.
“I am not from a rich family, but I became a lawyer, served as an Attorney General, and now I am the Chairman of the ICPC. So there is no limit to what you can achieve in the future if you study hard and respect your teachers and elders,” he said.
Responding, the Principal of the school, Murjanatu Muhammad, thanked the ICPC chairman for choosing the school for his first visit, describing it as a rare privilege.
She said the management would uphold his advice and continue to instill integrity and good character in the students.