UMUAHIA- The ICPC Chairman, retired Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, has called for a participatory approach to the anti-corruption crusade, to make it purpose driven and result-oriented.

He made the call in Umuahia at the 2008 National Conference of the South- East Zone of the Anti-Corruption Committees of Nigerian Legislatures and Heads of Anti-Corruption Units in Government Establishments.

Ayoola, represented by an official of the commission, Sen. Adejo Ogiri, said unless such a proactive measure was taken, the hope of eradicating corruption in Nigeria would remain elusive.

“The fight against corruption should be seen as a fight for all, and it must be value-oriented and purpose driven,” he said.

The chairman said gone were the days of mere rhetoric and uncoordinated actions, stressing that “positive measures must be taken to eradicate corruption for a better and brighter society”.

He said everyone must be prepared to get involved in the crusade through utterances, behaviours and actions in homes and work places, noting that the days of impunity were over.

“Honesty and rectitude should be the hallmarks of our administration, politics, elections, judiciary, academics, legislature and our everyday way of life,” he added.

Ayoola said the commission attached importance to collaboration and cooperation in the fight against the menace.

He said this was why a number of the commission’s integrity out- reach programmes
were taken to the grass roots.

The chairman said the theme of the conference, “Sustaining The Anti- Corruption Crusade: A Collaborative Effort Of All Nigerians,” was aimed at providing a holistic approach to the problem.

He urged the participants to engage in serious deliberations, by encouraging active participation of all Nigerians in the efforts to check the vice.

Alhaji Aminu Jika, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, told newsmen in Jalingo that the event would take place on September 27 in Gembu town on the Mambilla Plateau.

He said the state government had provided all the necessary internal structures for the event with the theme: “How climate changes affect the environment”.

The commissioner noted that “the scenic beauty” of Taraba as it has been described by the national tourism development plan, gave it the hosting right.

Jika said the state was blessed with enormous tourism potential, “which, if properly harnessed, will generate substantial revenue to the nation and create jobs.”

He said the greatest task ahead was to develop the infrastructure of the tourism sites in Wukari, Ibi and Gembu to stimulate both local and foreign investments in the sector.

He suggested a partnership between the state and the Federal Government in infrastructural development to revive the national athletics camp in Gembu.

He said “in the next four years, people will stop going to Europe for site seeing if infrastructure is improved and investment is encouraged with comfort and security at these sites.’’