Corruption: CAN advocates moral revolution and ethical re-orientation

Dennis Udoma

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in Akwa Ibom state has called for moral revolution and ethical re-orientation to tackle corruption in Nigeria.

Its Chairman, Dr. Ndueso Ekwere said this in Uyo during a paper presentation at an anti-corruption Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, organized by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa tagged, ‘‘Strengthening the Moral Institutions in Building a Corrupt Free Society’’.

Ekwere, while speaking on the topic, “Building a Morally Conscious Society to Resist Corruption” said Nigeria was fast becoming a more dangerous place with great loss of moral values.

He said, time has come for religious leaders to use their influence over people’s conscience to address moral decadence in the people, which corruption is a part of it.

According to him, “Nigeria needs religious leaders and groups of austere disposition to spearhead moral revolution and ethical re-orientation.

He further said that, religious organisations can also use their influences over people’s consciousness to bridge the gap between religious ritualism and social morality.

The clergy noted that, Nigeria was becoming a more dangerous place with loss of good moral values and, the emergence of leaders who concentrate on wealth and power disregarding the needs and desires of the youth and future generations.

The Chairman however maintained that, bad morals including corruption constitutes sin and should be condemned in churches saying, people who are contented with what
God had given them would not seek to have what is beyond their income.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagu emphasized the need for traditional rulers to be included in the anti-corruption war in the country.

Mr Nwagu stated that, the anti-corruption war would be a mirage if traditional rulers were not part of the process adding that, as custodians, they have a lot of influence to bring to bear.

Therefore, “we are losing the war on corruption if traditional rulers are not involved”, and called on the religious leaders, the traditional rulers and politicians to join the federal government’s effort in the fight against corruption.

 He called on the religious leaders to lend their voices to the anti-corruption war in the country.