Yesterday
afternoon, Anambra State Government unrepentant about how much damage
they have caused to the reputation of the State last Saturday’s
elections invited some candidates to the government house and made jumbo
offers to them to sign a prepared text by APGA and the government. In
fact the statement was prepared by a Deputy Director General in the APGA
campaign who is a serving member of the state cabinet.
While five of the candidate fell for the hook, we are proud of the
greater number –over seven of them towed the path of Sxza\honour by
rejecting the offer and calling for a total cancellation of the results
in line with the dictates of their conscience.
We commend these seven candidates namely : Chief Basil Onuora
Onyeachonam (Social Democratic Party ,SDP), chief Dennis Oguguo (KOWA
Party),Chief Anayo Arinze (African Democratic Congress ,ADC),Hon. Basil
Iwuoba (Peoples Party of Nigeria PPN), Chief Chuka Nwankwo ,Accord),
chief Patrick Ibeziako (African Peoples Alliance ,APA), Professor Ben
Akanegbu (United Peoples Party ,UPP).
History is repeating itself in Anambra State, and we are proud that
there are still persons who can say no to impunity irrespective of
whether they are frontliners in the race. We commend them and cannot but
note that these seven have written their names in the Anambra State
Hall of Fame, which for the time being resides in our minds. When the
political history of Anambra State is written, these candidates will
take their place.
Their call for total cancellation brings to 18, out of 23, the number
of candidates that have voted for the total cancellation of the
elections. Some other candidates however have taken the money offered by
the Peter Obi led State Government whose succeeding mission is to do
personal business with Anambra State apparatus, no matter what odium the
state faces as a result of these mercantile actions, which includes
procurement of November 16, 2013 elections.
The candidates who did not receive the blessing of their party and supporters but fell for the offer include Godson
Okoye (United Democratic Party, UDP), Engr. Tony Anene (Action Congress
Party of Nigeria, ACPN) , Dr. Webster Okonkwo (National Conscience
Party, NCP), Leonard Uchendu (New Nigeria People Party, NNPP) and Pastor
Simon Okafor (MMMP.
These minorities will have their say, but we now know where they are
coming from. However it is not so much the number as much as the fact
that what INEC conducted in Anambra State is a an unlawful elections
that brazenly contravened many sections of the Electoral Act and
disfranchised so many, witnessed intimidation of voter, violence,
intimidation and outright denial of voting materials.
We restate our stand, now shared with seventeen other campaigns that
only fresh elections would be acceptable to the generality of Anambra
State, and see the current divide as an opportunity for Ndi Anambra to
identify their enemies, who wish that they should not vote so that their
governors will be appointed from the ranks of the corrupt and inept.
For: NGIGE 2014
Chris Ngige campaign Organisation
OKELO MADUKAIFE
Short URL: http://www.osundefender.org/?p=132956
A new report by the Association of Chartered
Certified Accountants (ACCA), may have corroborated experts’ view that
bribery and corruption is a major contributor to the demise of 80 per
cent of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs),within the first five
years of their establishment in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
77 per cent of accountants in sub-Saharan Africa, surveyed for a
global study, believe that bribery is a major concern for businesses in
the SMEs sector, and 64 per cent said it had a negative impact on the
business environment as a whole.
Commenting on the report, Toyin Ademola from ACCA Nigeria, said:
“While sub-Saharan Africa is a huge place, it is clear that there is a
consensus among respondents that bribery and corruption damages a
business’s reputation and makes it harder to attract investment. The big
question for accountants here in Nigeria is: How do we tackle bribery
and corruption? The research respondents said the most effective
methods would be whistle blowing laws and more high profile
prosecutions.”
The newly published research from ACCA further stated that more than
60 per cent of respondents did not support the idea that the law should
treat bribery and corruption more leniently in the SMEs sector than in
the large company or public sectors; but should be tackled across board.
The report, “Combating Bribery in the SMEs sector” was conducted by ACCA among 1000 of its global members.
Toyin Ademola reiterated: “This report has a clear message for
accountants, SMEs and the government here in Nigeria. The full
restoration of trust and confidence in the business sector can only be
achieved when people believe that business is being conducted fairly and
transparently.
“By adopting a value-based approach, businesses can help themselves
and, indirectly, help to achieve the wider goal of enhancing confidence
in the business sector as a whole. Accountants, who have twin
responsibilities to give best advice to their employers or clients and
an obligation to act in the public interest, have a major part to play
in this process.”
The findings reveal a concern that many SMEs are not taking the right
steps to mitigate the risks of exposure to bribery and corruption. It
also suggests that many businesses have been willing to mis-state
financial statements to cover up for bribery and corruption and that
recourse to such practices has been exacerbated by the global financial
crisis.