PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to follow the example set by Chinese authorities in their fight against corruption by emulating the practise of taking government officials and members of their families on prison tours as warnings.
Earlier this week, the Chinese authorities decided to take newly appointed government officials on tours of prisons to let them know what awaited them should they engage in corruption. In China's eastern Hubei province, 70 Communist Party leaders, senior officials and their spouses visited ex-officials in the city prison and spent a day in jail as an educational warning.
President Xi Jinping has made weeding out corruption a top priority since coming to power more than two years ago, investigating and arresting senior government officials, military chiefs and business leaders. These latest prison tours, which included visits to former colleagues and bosses imprisoned for bribery and abuse of power, were a blunt reminder from Beijing against corruption.
One Beijing official said: It's a striking image to have watched the ex-officials showing their deep repentance while they serve their sentences in prison. These visits were organised to remind officials to be aware of wrongdoing involving corruption."
Visitors were also shown photos of interrogations that were hanging on prison walls. It is believed that the tours were put together by China's Central Commission of Disciplinary Inspection.
Earlier this month, the agency said some members of China's armed forces were not taking the fight against corruption seriously. Some military officers have said graft is so pervasive it could undermine China's ability to wage war.
Since assuming office in May last year, President Buhari has met with President Xi Jinping at least twice, visiting Beijing last month. Both presidents entered into agreements on several issues including security, building a railway network in Nigeria and bilateral trade.
Comments
Post a Comment