Corruption war must be total - Ayoola

By Bukola Olajide - 27.03.2008

IF the war against cor ruption is to have a meaningful impact on the fortunes of the country, it must be total, not only in terms of the reach, but also in the spread of the fighters and the weapons of the warfare.

These were the words of the chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, on Wednesday in Ibadan, Oyo State, while delivering a lecture entitled "The Fight Against Corruption: Need for a New Vigilance," at the first anniversary of the first private radio station in Ibadan, Splash 105.5 FM.

The ICPC boss explained that the anti-corruption war in the public sector without one in the private sector would not be effective. According to Justice Ayoola, "the efficacy of the war against corruption is diminished if we misconceive the war and regard its as a war directed solely at the public sector and against the big people.

"Corruption will continue to be a national problem and a source of national embarrassment unless the war against it is total." He added that "total war against corruption calls for a new vigilance and a fresh strategy of the campaign beyond criminal option, which represents medicine after death.

The preventive option must be the focus of the new campaign and the purpose of the new vigilance." The founding chairman of the radio station, Chief Adebayo Akande, in his speech at the occasion, explained his decision to establish the radio station.

He, however, added that the station would continue its duties of delivering unbiased news to the people.