Sahara Reporters is the Only Media Fighting Corruption in Nigeria- Falana
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana on Monday shared his displeasure on how corruption has taken over all sectors in Nigeria without a fight from the media.
Speaking during a Channels TV’s breakfast show, ‘Sunrise Daily’ where matters on the issues of corruption in the Nigerian system were discussed, Mr. Falana when asked what needs to change in fighting corruption said Nigerians should know that the government does not fight corruption but the fight lies in the hands of the victims of the corruption, especially the media.
He said, “In the first place it has to be realised generally not just in Nigeria that the government does not fight corruption. It is the duty of the people particularly victims of corruption assisted or led by civil society organisations like the trade unions, and civil rights movements, to expose corruption.
He, however, added that to fight corruption, the people must take advantage of the law by writing petitions among others.
“In the case of Nigeria, we must take advantage of the provisions of the law to write petitions, to follow up those petitions and ensure their fully investigated and anybody indicted is be brought to book.
“As I did say earlier, because of class solidarity on the part of the government and those who are indicted for corruption. It is difficult for the government to muster the political will to fight corruption, therefore, it is the duty of the Nigerian people to expose corruption.
“The media used to fight corruption in Nigeria before the birth of the EFCC and ICPC and the rest of them, it was the duty of the media in Nigeria to fight corruption. In the 70s, all you needed to do, if you knew that the public officer was corrupt, you simply will go to a court, file an affidavit that this guy collected so much money or he had awarded this contract to his friend or family member, therefore he has committed corruption, from that moment, the press will pick it up and feast on it until the officer was forced to resign or the officer decided on his own to quit the government.
“But these days, the press, the media cannot be relied upon when it comes to fighting corruption. Today, maybe apart from Sahara Reporters. You hardly find stories about corruption in other print and electronic media, so that area will have to be addressed.” He said.
Further, Mr. Falana noted that corruption is an integral part of a capitalist system especially with Nigeria running a peripheral capitalist system.
He stressed that it is almost normal to have corruption at this ‘dangerous’ level, but according to him, it is not enough for the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and Trade Union Congress, TUC to “talk about removal of fuel subsidy, fight for minimum wage, or better conditions of service.
“If the bulk of the money meant for the development of the state is stolen. There is no way, we can have improved conditions of service and that is why it has to be a battle for all Nigerians to fight this dangerous economic system we are operating and of course corruption that is part of it…Nigeria has to release that corruption is a manifestation of impunity.”
Follow us for more stories…
Author
