Chinedum Treasure
Bishop on the Niger, Anambra State, Rt Rev. Dr Owen Nwokolo has raised the alarm over what he described as catastrophic consequences of the development on both the nation’s international image and her economy.
He regretted that the negative impact of official corruption on the nation had assumed enarmous embarrassing dimension and very unacceptable.
Delivering his Presidential Address at the 3rd Session of the 32nd Synod of the diocese holding at St Christopher’s Anglican Church, Odakpu, Onitsha, Nwokolo further lamented the degree of harm “official corruption” had caused Nigeria’s reputation at the global level and its damaging effects on its economy.
He said, “Without mincing words, this Synod utterly condemns the infamous culture of public corruption which is partly responsible for our present economic woes and, in deed, why Nigerians are ridiculed abroad.
“The daily stories of arrests by EFCC of public officers for embezzling billions of Naira without corresponding punishment on offenders not only adversely affect the image of the country but also slow down our social and economic development drastically as well as diminish public confidence placed on public office holders.
“We therefore call on local, state, federal governments and law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts towards stemming the present tide of public corruption in the country.”
Nwokolo however commended Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo for what he described as invaluable development work he had embarked upon in various communities in the state.
He also appreciated the ways the governor was managing the security situation in the state, but urged him to intensify efforts to drive out all bandits and terrorists from every part of the state.
“The roads, electricity and water projects are not only of high quality but are initiated at the nick of time,” he added.
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