NPAN tells FG-We'll help you fight corruption..

We ‘ll help you fight corruption, NPAN tells FG

The Newspaper Proprietors' Association of
Nigeria (NPAN), Thursday, reiterated its
commitment to the fight against corruption in
the country ,insisting that it had always been in
the vanguard of the fight and that it was not
ready to stop now.
The assurance was given by the President of
the Association, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena , while
receiving the Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji. Lai Mohammed , on a courtesy
call on the Association at its Secretariat in
Maryland , Lagos.
" We will help you fight corruption because it is
antithetical to development" he stressed.
On hand to receive the minister among others ,
were the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Mr.
Sam Amuka, Mal. Ismaila Isa, both Life Patrons
of the Association, former governor of Ogun
State,Chief Segun Osoba, Mr. Ray Ekpu (both
past Presidents of the Association) as well as
Executive Council members and other members
of the Association.
Mr. Obaigbena who is also the Publisher of
Thisday newspapers, in welcoming the new
vista with which the government is pursuing its
anti- corruption drive, noted that more mileage
would be garnered and the campaign more
enduring, if government fights corruption by
building strong institutions.
To achieve greater result, he said it was
imperative to first find the root cause of
corruption, avoid arbitrariness and follow the
rule of law . Also, there was a need to respect
the doctrine of innocence under which an
accuse is presumed innocent until proven
guilty.
It would be unjust and unfair to lump people
together, and label everybody thieves, without
separating the wheat from the chaff,he added.
In his address, the minister sought the support
and cooperation of the media owners, adding
that it was not the intention of the government
to intimidate anyone or group of persons.
Goverment's current drive he argued, was
motivated by the higher ideal of bringing
happiness to the greater number of the
citizenry. This he said would remain an illusion
without curing the corruption cancer that had
eaten deep into the nation.
Members of NPAN in a group photograph with
the minister after the meeting.
Mohammed drew a nexus between corruption
and development, explaining that it would be
difficult to develop infrastructure like roads,
railway, schools, etc if government revenues are
stolen
Taking on the economy without first fighting
corruption, he argued, would be an exercise in
futility.
He recalled his earlier pronouncement how the
nation could be transformed into an eldorado,
providing roads, schools, hospitals etc , if the
funds stolen had been judiciously applied.
For instance, he said the total amount Nigeria
was seeking to borrow from the World Bank or
the African Development Bank or others is $3.5
billion, adding that if only a few who had stolen
from the nation's revenues had returned a
fraction or that the issue of the $20 billion had
been resolved, the nation would not need to
borrow.
Ms Comfort Obi of The Source magazine,
Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and
ThisDay Publisher/NPAN President, Nduka
Obaigbena.
Mohammed said in the next few weeks
government would be launching a National Re -
orientation Campaign tagged " Change begins
with me". The campaign is to compliment other
campaigns already launched such as National
Security Awareness Campaign and the National
Sensitization Campaign Against Corruption He
pleaded for the support of the media for the new
campaign
Others on hand to receive the minister included
Deputy President and Chairman, Media Trust,
Mal. Kabiru A. Yusuf, the General Secretary and
Publisher of the Source Magazine, Comfort Obi,
President of Leadership Group and former
Presidential aspirant, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah,
Assistant Secretary and Publisher of Blue Print
newspapers, Alh. Mohammed Idris,Group
Managing Director of Champion Newspapers,
Mrs Nwadiuto Iheakanwa and President of Tell
communications, Mr. Nosa Igiebor
From left: GM/Editor-in-Chief, Vanguard
Newspapers, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, Ms Comfort
Obi of The Source magazine, Mr Steve Nwosu of
The Sun and Mrs Funke Egbemode of The
Telegraph.
Also present were Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Editor-in-
Chief, The News, Gbenga Adefaye, Editor-in-
Chief of Vanguard ; Publisher of Daily Times,
Mr. Fidelis Anosike, Mr.Ted Iwere, Managing
Director of Daily Independent, Mannging
Director of New Telegraph, Mrs Funke
Egbemode and Deputy Managing Director of The
Sun, Mr. Steve Nwosu.