By Deshi Munkuwe
Globally, corruption threatens security and stability, hinders economic growth, undermines democracy and human rights, destroys trust in public institutions, facilitates transnational crimes, and siphons away public and private resources.
It is on this regard, the world has recognized the need to unanimously fight the ‘monster’ to have better society where management of resources are transparent for the benefit of all as embarked upon by countries, organizations and individuals.
Unfortunately, it’s rare in Africa seeing governments’ realizing one of the major methods to mark tremendous successes in combating corruption which is by working in concert with committed partners, including courageous individuals and organizations that champion anticorruption efforts and are working to fulfill their commitments to both local and international anticorruption standards.
In advanced countries like the USA, national and international anticorruption champions’ awards are organized to acknowledge and support individuals who have worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability.
In line with Rigoberta Menchú, a Nobel Prize laureate who said “Without strong watchdog institutions, impunity become the very foundation upon which systems of corruption are built. And if impunity is not demolished, all efforts to bring an end to corruption are in vain”.
It is on the above mind that Ambassador Aminu Abubakar Majidadi established Almushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA) as one of the watchdogs aimed at giving corruption in Nigeria a run for money over a decade ago.
AITA as an anti-corruption, non-governmental organization (NGO) was primarily established by the anti-corruption crusader to contribute his quarter in changing the narrative of Nigeria that has been tagged as one of the most corrupt countries in the world to a better nation that should function well as the giant of Africa in all phases of developments.
AITA came on board and has been working towards achieving the vision to ensure zero tolerance for corruption and related activities, work in partnership with all relevant security agencies/institutions of government such as DSS, Nigeria Police Force, EFCC and ICPC.
Also, AITA is embedded with the vision to provide access to justice for all Nigerians, devoid of legislatives and executive encumbrances, to support young people to realize their full potentials and actively contribute to the sustainable development of their society, tasks among others which it has since began yielding positive results in the lives of Nigerians for the betterment of Nigeria.
Ambassador Majidadi as the founder and the national president of AITA is no doubt among those Nigerians who work to overcome corruption and believe it to be possible. His tirelessness in sponsoring anti-corruption awareness campaigns, mounting investigations towards hunting and ensuring the arrest and prosecution of corrupt individuals and institutions of government and private in Nigeria is second to none.
As he always said, corruption is a cankerworm that has eaten deep into the fabric of Nigerian society and people in all strata of live across board, the current President of United States of America, Joe Biden shares same view and he opted that “Corruption is a cancer, a cancer that eats away at citizens’ faith in democracy, diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity.”
Of course, this has made it a mandate by the government and the people to see the corruption fight as a must to do battle against a common enemy of Nigeria and its people above anything as advocated by Amb. Majidadi.
Regardless of the strong fighting-back forces of corruption, Majidadi fearlessly engaged in this battle against the monster which has so far ended many corrupt leaders in jail and several others on the way as when found guilty by the court.
As commonly said by Majidadi; “the war against corruption is that which all hands must be on deck to succeed”, the anti-corruption champion has through his pragmatic efforts and results driven programmes gained partnership and goodwill of major stakeholders in this struggle above his equals in Nigeria.
As an advocate of youth sensitization for entrepreneurship, innovation, activeness in politics and of course playing major role in the noble fight against corruption in line with the view of Kurt Cobain, who opined that “The duty of youth is to challenge corruption” and also Peter Eigen, founder of Transparency International who said; “People should be conscious that they can change a corrupt system”, AITA has under the leadership of Amb. Majidadi organizes series of seminars and workshops in that regard as one of its visions.
Politically, Amb. Aminu has played and is playing greater role in sensitizing follow politicians on the risks of involving in activities of corruption and mismanagement of public funds and trusts geared towards changing the narrative of politics in Nigeria that is seen as a dirty game, haven served at different political positions, nationally.
As security expert, Amb. Majidadi has in collaboration with Bunu Bunu Culture and Sporting Co. Ltd provided Security Checks & Crime Reporting App called NCHE that is developed to help in crime report in good time for quick apprehension of culprits. NCHE is designed to also prevent vehicular facilitated crimes.
In his domain as a seasoned philanthropist and human right activist, Majidadi has taken the acts of caring for less-privileged and physically challenged individuals as part of life where he is always seen around orphanage homes giving them hope and making donations.
Ambassador Majidadi is one Nigerian who don’t wait for the less privileged to come to him for help, rather he goes out for them and assist generously.
As rightly asserted by Majidadi, the poor living conditions that Nigerians found themselves are clear effects of massive acts of corruption by few Nigerians privileged to be in one or the other higher positions of government and even private institutions.
Undoubtedly, our commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability is a mission that we must live to defend in order to make Nigeria greater than it is and all its inhabitants’ better people.
Indeed, corruption can be defeated by implementing sound reforms and consistent efforts in making national and international anticorruption commitments; developing transparent, accountable institutions, acknowledging and supporting citizens like Ambassador Aminu Abubakar Majidadi, and also non-governmental organizations like AITA to help defeat this national and global threat to security, democracy and human development.
