The Pyrate Confraternity has expressed concern over the spate of corruption in Nigeria, describing the malaise as “an unfortunate phenomenon and a danger that is posing a lethal threat to human integrity.”
It, however, said that virtually all the countries in the world are having their share of this endangering vice.
The Confraternity said: “Little wonder, it has been tagged to be ‘normal’ in daily engagements with others, such that it is often adopted in the race to achieving a wealthy livelihood.
“It is a phenomenon that has a colossal negative impact on the social, political and economic stability of a nation, a menace that is living and growing uncontrollably within the human community, and if not curbed, would completely destroy the humanitarian and empathetic feature in human beings, hence the birth of the ‘International Anti-Corruption Day’.”
Pyrate Confraternity said it respected the International Anti-Corruption Day, which is observed and celebrated on the 9th of December, every year, saying “It is to remind the globe of the responsibility of curtailing it and also to raise awareness among the general public on the impact of the prevailing insanity in many countries as well as raise concern on the destructive effects of corruption on the growth of the society at large.”
It said it is as a result of this that the Abeokuta Chapter of the Association, alongside the Canada Chapter, organised a Television programme to commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day.
Speaking during the programme aired on Ogun State Television (OGTV), Abeokuta, were two discussants – Mr. Adeyemi Akintunde, a veteran Journalist and Comrade Yinka Folarin, Executive Director, Human Rights and Grassroots Development Society.
The duo was invited to speak on the malpractice that has eaten deep into the lives of human beings.
Speaking during the programme, Akintunde said that the issue is not peculiar to Nigeria, but prevalent all over the World.
According to him, “Corruption is complex in nature, which is a social, political and economic phenomenon that has contributed to our governmental instability.”
He said these vices have dealt with people immensely saying, for instance, it is evident in the health sector, where numerous untimely deaths of the citizens are recorded.
Folarin equally condemned the act of corruption and also reiterated that the health sector is porous with corruptible representatives who do not take human lives seriously.
He said that these unscrupulous people tend to manage wealth that is needless in the first place.
He said: “We will have a human right respected society if we are able to eradicate corruption in our lives. As a result of corruption, the lives of the people are being threatened and trampled upon.
In the health sector, he said: “When they steal what belongs to the entire citizens, what do use to equip our health facility? Which apparently means the lives of the people are threatened.
“Corruption will entail denying people of their right at all levels of engagements, denying them of a good livelihood, denying them the right to a good education, denying them affordable and exposure to a good health care, and many more,” he explained.
In conclusion, he said it is paramount and as a matter of acceleration, that “we all must ensure that this menace does not hamper the existence of a sane environment, and as such, we all have important roles to play in kicking it out from our mental state of reasoning by fastening our seat belts and gearing ourselves towards better and a free-of-corruption future.”