Discontented with the attendant consequences of the growing corruption in the Nigerian society, Islamic clerics, under the umbrella of ‘Just Foundation’ has completed arrangements to fight corruption.
Already, the Foundation has the support of International Donor Agency and has obtained grants from the ‘MacArthur Foundation’ to commence the fight against corruption in the country.
According to the Foundation, the fight is targeted at zero tolerance for corruption menace, and making sure corrupt government officials no longer have hiding place.
The Foundation Executive Director, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, who disclosed these in Kaduna while on advocacy visit to Islamic leaders in kaduna state, said the Foundation is also soliciting for membership from people of proven integrity and faith, and leaders of other Islamic organisations to enlist in the anti- corruption project.
Imam fuad explained that those enrolled would be trained in all aspects of governance and how to monitor budgets and project locations that were given deadlines, and therefore required collaboration of all Islamic bodies to succeed in the mission to fight corruption.
“After sensitizing the clerics, we will empower them to speak on the effects of corruption, and what they need to disseminate to the public, saying that when government is fighting corruption from above, the clerics will reach it out from the grassroots”, he said.
Imam Fuad further explained that the project, being funded by grants from the MacArthur Foundation, would focus on empowering religious leaders to speak more about corruption and its ills.
In his response, the President, Muslim Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Olopade Sulaimon, said recruiting the scholars and clerics into the Foundation will go a long way in reaching out to Nigerians who decide who to govern them.
Earlier in his remark, the Co -Director, Interfaith Mediation Centre of the Muslim -Christian Dialogue in Kaduna, Imam Muhammad Ashafa, said the crusade of bringing forth a religious leader from the temple of the Mosque to the public to speak on the ills of corruption is a welcome idea.
“The anti corruption fight would be extended to financial, educational and political institutions as well as moral and spiritual levels of our endeavour.
“Elements of corruption begin with the ordinary man who refuses to pay his electric bill, tampers with his meter, breaching trust and not obeying the rules of law amongst others”, Ashafa said.
Organizations expected to be visited by the team include, Muslim Council of Nigeria, JNI, Fityanul Islam, Muslim for Accountability and FOMWAN respectively.
