Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative, CAACSVI, has condemned the hoarding of palliatives meant for the poor and vulnerable masses , to alleviate their suffering during the lockdown engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement on Saturday by its Executive Director, Comrade Muyiwa Olende, he said the recent discoveries of stocked warehouses with CACOVID-19 palliatives is quite shocking and embarrassing to the nation.
He said that CAACSVI as an organisation with a mandate of advocating for public moral sanity believes that such act is detrimental to social cohesion as is apparent by the anger, rage and delinquence that greeted the discovery of stock palliatives warehouses.
Olende also called for investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) while emphasizing the need for national re-orientation as the only mean to salvage Nigeria.
He said, “The scenario that played out when hoodlums went on rampage in looting warehouses in search of COVID-19 palliative across different states of the federation, and these are states being governed by different political parties. This scenario has just confirmed our earlier assertion that Nigerian problem is deeply rooted in Nigerian people.
“We cannot but again say it for the umpteenth time that we all need a change of orientation even at all level, both in leadership and followership levels that the essence of leadership and our existence is service to humanity and that success as defined everywhere in the world is not in any way primitive acquisition of wealth, but how much value we are able to add to lives of our people, and until that is done by leaders at all levels, the peace and tranquillity for us to live together as a nation and one people will still be elusive.
“We are calling on ICPC to as a matter of urgency commence a rigorous investigation into every issue that has to do with COVID-19 palliative and donations starting from February 2020 till date, and all who be found culpable in one way or the other in sabotaging palliative ideas must be brought to book no matter how highly placed. This is the only way citizens can begin to have a little confidence in the entity called government.
“We therefore condemn every statement credited to individual governors and Nigeria Governors Forum in defence of the hoarding of palliatives, and all reasons for keeping the palliatives till now without sharing same to those who are in dire need of these food items for survival. We can all see the level of hunger in Nigeria and at least those palliatives would have cushioned the effect.
He further condemned the looting of private businesses and houses, saying it was unpatriotic and betrayal to the national cause.
“We also condemn every activity of hoodlums in looting both government and private warehouses across the country as we see no justification whatsoever for such actions, and that the action of these hoodlums constitute lack of patriotism and they are as guilty as those hoarding the palliatives.
“We also implore our overstretched security agencies to as a matter of urgency restore order in our society across the country with minimum force and with maximum civility”, he added.