Islamic group pledges to support government’s anti-corruption fight

• Plans training on budget monitoring

An Islamic group, Just Foundation (JF), has pledged to use religion to fight corruption in Nigeria.The Executive Director of the Foundation, Imam Fuad Adeyemi, disclosed this in Kaduna, during an advocacy visit to Islamic leaders in the state.

He said the foundation would solicit people of proven integrity in other Islamic organisations to join in the anti-corruption project.
Adeyemi disclosed that the foundation had secured the support of an international donor agency, and also obtained grants from MacArthur Foundation to commence the anti-corruption fight.

The group cautioned that public officials in the public and private sectors would no longer have a hiding place in the society.Adeyemi disclosed that it would train people in all aspects of governance to monitor budgets and project locations, especially those with deadlines. He said: “After the sensitising, the clerics would be empowered to speak on the effects of corruption, and disseminate the information to the public.He said: “The project is a three-year pilot, which is expected to cover six states of Kogi, Niger, Lagos, Osun, Kaduna and Abuja.”He explained that the clerics would fight corruption from the grassroots, as government continues to fight from the top.

According to him: “Rather than constantly preaching prosperity, we will rather encourage and support the Imams, preachers and their followers to speak against those who use their positions and opportunities to cheat and loot.”

“Looting the treasury to their own selfish and ungodly advantages potentially create despondency, triggers a sense of competition and desperation to get rich at all costs.”He alleged that corruption and the mad acquisition of wealth have transformed to digital stealing and scientific corruption.

He expressed concern that some Nigerians have continually devised new approaches, despite government’s efforts.He explained: “Just Foundation, as an arm of Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, has embarked on an anti- corruption mission to free the society of the canker warm, using the religious leaders as a tool.

Responding, the President, Muslim Council of Nigeria,Olopade Sulaimon, said recruiting scholars and clerics would go a long way in reaching out to Nigerians who have the power to decide who govern them.He argued: “The reason corruption has found its place in the system, is because the society condones it, many corrupt leaders are celebrated in Nigeria. There is the need to compliment government’s efforts in the fight.”

Also, the Co-director, Interfaith Mediation Centre of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue in Kaduna, Muhammad Ashafa, commended the initiative of bringing religious leaders to speak on the ills of corruption.