The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, has uncovered and retrieved over N900billion diverted constituency project funds siphoned by federal lawmakers in 12 states.
Its Commissioner in Kano, Mr Zayyanu Danmusa, revealed on Sunday in Kano, while unveiling members of an anti-corruption group drawn from the 44 Local Government Areas of the state,in collaboration with Community for Peace and Corrupt Free Society, Nigeria(CPCFS).
He explained that most of the lawmakers connived with contractors and supervisory federal agencies to siphon funds budgeted for constituency projects meant to enhance the development of their respective communities.
According to him, the fight against corruption should not be left alone for ICPC and EFCC.
The fight, he said, is a collective responsibility of Nigerians to expose as well as provide useful information on the activities corrupt practices.
Danmusa said the Commission is in collaboration with different civil society organisations for sensitisation, monitoring and prevention of the need of public to shun corruption.
A board member of the ICPC, Hon. Dauda Yahaya Umar, who also chaired the Commission’s Constituency projects tracking committee, called on Nigerians to disown, shun and stop celebrating corrupt politicians and public office holders.
Umar regretted that the activities of corrupt leaders have continued to retrogress national development.
The ICPS board member noted that President Muhammadu Buhari alone cannot champion the fight against corruption, “because you should expect Mr. President to carry gun or knife to get at every corrupt Nigerian.”
He maintained that members of the group,drawn from the Local Government Areas of the state, would serve as volunteers of anti corruption campaigns through monitoring implementation of constituency projects in their respective communities.
“Our message is simple—Nigerians should shun corruption. Nigerians should disown corrupt people and stop celebrating them.
“By the time we boo corrupt leaders instead of hailing them, by the time we make them be on their own, they will have a rethink and begin to realise that what the havoc they are causing to our great country have severe consequences.
“This is our country and we must do something to help Nigeria get of this mess called corruption.
“I am not a politician but what we are facing as a people in Nigeria is pitiable, because of the activities of corrupt people.
“This is why we initiated this platform to join hands with designated anti-corruption agencies such as ICPC to expose corrupt politicians and public office holders.
“We are not stopping at that, we are taking the crusade against corruption to the communities.”
