Itse Sagay, the chairman of the presidential advisory committee against corruption, PACAC, has said that he would rather work alone on a task than work with corrupt people.
Sagay said further that before someone could speak against corruption, such persons must purge themselves of the vice.
He made this assertion at a Dialogue of Organs of Government on Reform of Justice Sector and Campaign Against corruption, jointly organised by PACAC and the Federal Ministry of Justice, with the theme: ‘The imperative of cooperation of arms of government in a democratic dispensation’.
Speaking at the event, which held on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, Sagay insisted that paying lip service to the fight against corruption ridiculed the whole exercise, but pointed out that a repentant corrupt person was welcomed to join the fight against graft.
According to Sagay, “Fighting corruption cannot be lip service. You cannot be corrupt and be talking against corruption, it ridicules the whole exercise and the spirit of that struggle.
“And so we should purge ourselves of corruption so that we can stand on firm ground to speak. Some might have been corrupt in the past but if you purge yourselves then you are welcome. It ridicules the whole process when we see people waxing lyrical on anti-corruption whereas, behind them, they have huge load of assets and other things which they corruptly acquired.
“So, collaboration and cooperation are essential because we need each other in order to succeed. But I think I will rather work alone than work with a corrupt person who is not sincere and is just making a fool of the whole country whilst preaching like a pastor about corruption.”
