Community Association for Grassroots Transformation (CAGRAT) has called on President Bola Tinubu to make the on-going fight against corruption more potent and inclusive.
The non-governmental and non-partisan organisation, comprising the Nupe in three North Central states of Niger, Kogi and Kwara, voiced its concern over the persistent corruption cases that tend to cripple the country in all spheres.
President-General of CAGRAT, Muhammad Etsugaie, stated this during the leadership inaugural lecture, award night and national press conference at Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre, Minna, Niger State.
He said anyone found to have soiled his hands must be identified and punished according to the laws of the land, regardless of religion or ethnicity.
Etsugaie noted corruption as a social danger that does not only stop growth of a nation, but pushes the citizens to resort to self-help for survival, nurturing a fertile ground for criminality or even insecurity.
The PG disclosed that CAGRAT’s objectives were channeled towards advancing the common good and partnering government and other groups to create opportunities for better life for all.
Stressing the need for Nigerians to wake up and show enough anger against leaders compromising the people’s trust, he urged Nigerians to collectively hold leaders accountable in line with democratic principles and ethics.
He said: “The people, too, must not accommodate or celebrate evidently corrupt politicians or representatives. The representatives are servants of the people and not masters.”
At the event, CAGRAT Director of Communication and Strategy, Prof Mohammed Kailani, regretted that instead of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, castigating Tinubu, he should join him to move the country forward.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain added: “As you are aware, Atiku Abubakar is our brother; we didn’t vote for him, but we voted for a Yoruba man. Though, it is not in our constitution to rotate the power, it is a gentleman’s agreement; hence, we shifted the power to the South West. I am, therefore, calling on Tinubu and Atiku to come together as it is done in developed countries. After elections, they come together as leaders to fashion a way out for the progress and prosperity of the nation.”
Earlier, Governor Muhammad Bago, after inaugurating the CAGRAT officials, had said: “As a grassroots advocacy group, there is a need for the leadership to have roundtable discussion with the government, so that they can key in.”
