A coalition of civil society groups, Vote for Service Initiative, Projekthope and Congress of Electorates has cautioned other civil society groups in the country to exercise caution and maintain equity and fairness as the present government continues to champion its war against corruption.
This is coming on the heels of the recent petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, on the alleged contracts for the upgrade of a website, www.tundefashola.com for the sum of N78 million, approved during the tenure of immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola.
In a communiqué, jointly signed by Samuel Adeola-Ilori, President, Vote for Service Initiative, Steve Aborisade, Executive Director, Projekthope/Media Integrity and Olumide Alasoadura, Co-convener, Congress of Electorates, the coalition said: “We acknowledge the effort of the good governance advocacy group; BudgetIT, for its searchlight on public expenditure that exposed what looked like a colossal amount committed to building and maintaining a website.
“The outrage from Nigerians is an indication and measure of their disdain for official corruption in government circles and the need for a new order of responsibility on the parts of our elected officials.
“We want to insist that any civil group worthy in name must first reflect on the contradictions of its actions, especially when wholesome petition calling for criminal probe of government officials and individuals are anchored on hearsay without the slightest shred of evidence. The credibility of our accusations should be supported by objective truth that is incontrovertible before we go to town to make accusations that may malign the integrity of individuals and groups.
“It is important to separate our activism from politically motivated actions, several of which we have witnessed lately that serves not the interest of the people beyond promoting the agenda of those behind it.
"We may for instance ask why it becomes difficult for a credible anti-corruption group to conduct some fact findings of its own to corroborate wanton accusations before accepting it as objective truth. “Why would any organization rely solely on media reports for a petition that can be skewed for ulterior motives as the gospel truth?”