By Evangeline Opara
The NYSC in Imo and the EFCC on Friday engaged youths, women organisations, NLC and some others on a walk against corruption in the state.
The walk, which commenced from Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri terminated at Owerri Municipal Local Council on Douglas Road.
Corps members carried placards with inscriptions: “See Something, Say Something….. and the EFCC will Surely do Something”, and “Shun Corruption, It is Evil.”
Others read “Join the EFCC to Kick Corruption out of Nigeria.”, “Say No to Corruption Today to Save Nigeria”, “Corruption is worse than Cancer: Youths Reject It” and “No Future with Corruption.”
Before the walk which commenced in the early hours of the morning, the State Coordinator of the NYSC, Mr John Eloeboh, had told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the walk was to engage Nigerian youths on the need to fight corruption.
Eloeboh, who was represented by Mr Mike Obemeata, the Assistant Director in the NYSC, defined corruption as an evil that had eaten deep into the fabrics of the society and which should be tackled head-on.
He expressed optimism that the awareness walk with the theme “Nigerian Youths Walk Against Corruption” would make impact on the minds of members of the society and produce deserving change of attitude.
“By this walk, we expect that our youths and other Nigerians would be impacted and show a sign of responsible citizens who are not corrupt.
“The walk involves everyone, the market women, women organisations, NLC, the police, EFCC and other Civil liberty Organisations.
“We are calling on Nigerians to join in the walk against corruption,” he said.
A corps member, Mercy Adeyemo, serving in Batch B (11), expressed happiness in taking part in the awareness walk on the dangers of corruption.
She said corruption was deep seated at all levels and in all places and called on every one to be involved, echoing the slogan: “when you identify corruption, say no to it.”
Mrs Ogechi Ike, an Executive Director in Citizens Centre for Integrated Development and Social Right, said the walk was to ask for accountability and transparency at every level of government which would translate to good governance and development of the nation.
Ike, also a member of Nigeria Council for Women Society, expressed optimism that the message of the walk – the need to fight corruption in the country- would be imbibed by all Nigerians irrespective of religion, political affiliation and status.
In a text message, Ibrahim Magu, the Acting Executive Chairman of the EFCC, had said that public enlightenment and sensitisation about the menace of corruption had become increasingly imperative considering the evils of economic and financial crimes in the society.
The text message was read by Mr John Oshodi, the Deputy Chief Detective in EFCC.
Magu said the walk was to ensure public ownership of the fight against corruption and make every Nigerian a ready stakeholder.
“The new perspective we are exploring is the awakening and mobilisation of youths in our nation to the task of exposing, confronting and tackling the scourge of corruption.
“As we all know, youths constitute the bulk of our population and they are the realities and strength of our future.
“The Nigerian youths are crucial to the success of the anti-corruption crusade and commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
“In this regard, the EFCC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the National Youth Service Corps, is holding the ever Nigerian Youths Walk Against Corruption concurrently in all the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT,” he said.
According to Magu, the objective is to sensitise and moblise youths across the country to reject the evils of corrupt practices and be anti-corruption advocates and ambassadors.