Owing to the rate at which corrupt leaders use public funds to buy their way into offices, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has enjoined the Media to expose injustices and corruption especially in electoral processes.
CISLAC gave the task during a one day workshop it organised in collaboration with Transparency International (TI)for Journalists on Political Integrity and Political Party Accountability Reporting in Port Harcourt.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani stressed the need for Media to expose instances of corruption noting that accountability is absent when politicians use public money to buy their way to the top.
CISLAC Executive Director maintained that there is need to campaign against votes buying and selling as well as encourage transparent electoral processes regretting that those who have the ability to rule do not have the opportunity because they do not have stolen funds to buy votes.
“Despite the budgetary allocations to security, insecurity is becoming worse by the day which has adversely affected the economy of the nation.
There must be Accountability, we must insist that corrupt political processes be dismantled”, he stated.
He expressed belief that the media can help to ensure that electoral accountability is installed in Nigeria.
On his part, the chairman Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye said it is the ethical responsibility of the Media to ensure public accountability in the acquisition of property and inform the populace adequately since the constitution has empowered the fourth estate of the realm to do so.
The ICPC Boss who was represented by Mallam Hassan Salihu described political integrity as exercising political power in the interest of the society and frowned against Political financing and use of ‘dirty money’.
He said abundance of dirty money in Nigerian politics perpetuates a culture of lack of accountability as dirty Money in politics limits the choice of Nigerians and allows the worst of citizens to find their way into power.
He lauded the workshop that was aimed at improving the capacity of the media and civil societies to investigate the presence of dirty in Nigeria’s Political process as well as increase citizens’demand for accountability in the funding of Political processes.
