GOVERNOR ALIA VOWS TO ELIMINATE CORRUPTION IN THE EDUCATIONAL SECTOR
By Bridget Tikyaa
The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, has said his administration will do all it takes to eliminate the corruption that has eaten deep into the Educational Sector in the state.
Governor Alia made the vow on Thursday, during a public lecture “Nigeria: 25 Years of Uninterrupted Democracy” organised by Dr Terna Francis, Director General (DG), Benue Quality Assurance Agency in Makurdi.
The event also saw the presentation of four books: “Moral Philosophy and Character Formation: Nigeria Under the Lens” and Civic Education and National Values. Basic 1, 2&3, all written by Dr. Terna Francis.
Speaking in his capacity as the Chief Host, the governor said fighting corruption was beyond speaking on the national televisions as corruption starts right from the primary school.
He said corruption has eaten so deep into the system that it has also reached homes, associations, pressure groups, streets amongst others.
According to him, it has become hard to differentiate between what is right and wrong in some cases because what may be right in one culture would be wrong in another.
He said morality was not cultural nor global, insisting that there must be attitudinal change for things to change in the country.
“Change must begin with us. So let us be the mirror of what we anticipate. When we talk of moral corruption at the national level we should remember that it starts right from the primary school, homes, associations, the streets.”
Speaking on the books presented, Governor Alia said ethics is one area that can never be exhausted, encouraging others to take a cue to discover themselves, gaining the moral threshold that is expected to bring the fabrics of development of growth and human development.
He said the author has tried in the books to call for the “emergence of our moral now and going a prospect in our tomorrow”.
Earlier, the Book reviewer, Prof Aloysius Ihuah , National President, Association of Physiology Practitioners of Nigeria, commended the author for trying to promote national ethics in the work.
Prof Ihuah said the books have 12 chapters with 293 pages, adding that Aristotle’s doctrine of morality can not be applied in Nigeria.
He insisted that there are problems in Nigeria regarding morality, due to the way people and government behave.
“Why do we embezzle monies, hoard food and even do kidnapping for ransoms? This are also moral issues. Why do people steal billions and at what rate can we start viewing corruption in the negative?”
In their separate inputs, the panel of discussants during the event, all agreed that societies are known for what they celebrate and yearn for, adding that those who have the opportunity to lead the state must be morally valuable.
Contributing during the discussion, Barr Emmanuel Jime said there cannot be real development without morality.
Jime further commended the author for intellectualising the moral issues confronting the nation into books.
“Bad leadership is a channel of immorality in governance. Our process of leadership recruitment in Nigeria are a call for concern.”
Also Dr Attah Pine said the last 25 years of governance in Benue have clearly shown that there was morality problem in the State
“All successive Governors and leaders have morality challenges with one another.
“Akume installed Suswam and he got into problems with him. Ortom came in, had problem with Suswam and now Alia having problems with Ortom. This centred on morality and their inability to morally rule the people of the State.
“The greatest injustice governance is the fight between leaders who are always after each others for personal benefits.”he said.
Bridget Tikyaa writes from Makurdi, Benue State Capital
