TheCable

Emeka Ezeh, former director-general of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), says it is wrong to believe that everyone who serves in government is a thief.

Ezeh, who disclosed this while being awarded the Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award for Excellence by the West African Students Parliament (WASP), adding that reports about looting have indeed being a shock to him.

“Not everybody who works for government or public institutions is a thief as there are many diligent and conscientious public servants who serve the political leaders of the time,” he said.

“Government can strengthen the oversight powers of the Bureau of Public Procurement to prevent abuses.

“What is happening in Nigeria is not peculiar to Nigeria except that the speed of getting judicial remedy is faster in other climes.”

He urged the judiciary to find ways to quicken the process of adjudication of cases bordering on corruption pointing out that justice delayed is justice denied.

He said a practice directive by the honourable chief justice of the federation (CJN) could go a long way in fast-tracking the trial of cases bordering on contract fraud.

While expressing surprise at the revelations about the looting before various courts, Ezeh highlighted the need to strengthen institutions charged with the responsibility of preventing corruption, as it is easier to prevent than to cure.

Ezeh, who was awarded the Nkrumah prize for “hard work and dedication to nation-building”, said Nigeria is not the worst country on earth, and as such there is no reason to continuously give “ourselves negative energy”.

“We should not be too critical of ourselves, inspite of our shortcomings,” he said.

To him, the current challenges should rather make us see “our cup as half full, rather than as half empty, especially with the concerted efforts of President Mohammadu Buhari to take the nation out of the woods”.

“I feel highly honoured with this award, especially that it is coming after I left office,” he added.

“Nothing holds a nation together like hard work and honesty. And honesty is what you do when nobody is watching you, not necessarily what you do when people are watching you.”

Donald Udo, WASP director, Nigerian affairs, said Ezeh was nominated for his diligent, painstaking and dedicated service to the procurement cause.

He added that Ezeh now joins other distinguished recipients, such as Mohammed Uwais, former chief justice of the federation, and John Udoko, a respected academic.

Edem Degboe-Ayih, WASP speaker from Universite Enyansibe Eyadema, Lome, joined Udo in congratulating Ezeh, and urged him to keep up his good works even in his private capacity.

At the ceremony were Harry Oranezi, a consultant pediatrician, and several student representatives.