Group Urges Voters To Reject Corrupt Politicians

Source: SAINT MUGAGA. - thewillnigeria.com

ABUJA, April 01, (THEWILL) - With a few hours to the 2011 general elections, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on “Nigerians to use their votes on elections day to stop those who have diverted Nigeria’s resources and wealth for personal use, thus subjecting millions of Nigerians to deprivation and extreme poverty.”

In a public statement dated 1 April 2011, and signed by SERAP executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the group said: “Elections provide an important opportunity for consolidating democracy and justice in a country such as Nigeria that is characterised by corruption and insufficient attention to economic, social and cultural rights protection.”

The group said: “Your vote is the most important way to make your voice heard on such critical issues as corruption and to hold your leaders accountable. It is now up to the electorates to take the initiative and stop another round of treasury looting, and to elect candidates that will put Nigeria in the path of sustainable development and respect for human rights. Genuine fight against corruption can’t happen without you, so please make your votes count!.”

“The elections are very important for the voters to send a strong message to the political class that they are sick and tired of years of corruption and mismanagement; and to vote for candidates who will help entrench human rights principles, including accountability, transparency and development for the sake of the present and future generations.”

The group also said that, “Despite Nigeria’s oil wealth and abundant human resources, decades of high level political corruption by the very people entrusted with public money has made successive governments unable to meet the basic needs, including health, food, education, and housing, of majority of Nigerians. Today, over 100 million Nigerians are living below the poverty level, while millions of Nigerian children of school age roam the street and are denied access to quality education.

The group expressed “disappointment that throughout the campaigns, almost all the candidates failed to come up with clear and coherent action plans on how they intend to increase the promotion and protection of human rights, accountability and the rule of law in the country. The candidates should have said to the electorates “here is what we are going to do to protect and promote human rights especially economic and social rights and stop the endemic corruption in the country.”