Urgent Press Release
Abuja, Thursday, July 10, 2024
Palace of Priests Assembly (PPA) and Priests Peace and Justice Initiative (PPJ) Mark African Anti-Corruption Day with Partners Nationwide and Urge the Church to Continue as Anti-Corruption Crusaders
The Palace of Priests Assembly (PPA) and its social arm, the Priests Peace & Justice Initiative (PPJ), join the African community in commemorating the African Anti-Corruption Day 2024.
This year, African Anti-Corruption Day is dedicated to recognizing the role of whistleblowers under the theme “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption.” The African Union designated July 11 as African Anti-Corruption Day to mark the adoption of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC). To date, 48 Member States have ratified the Convention, implementing measures such as criminalizing corruption, establishing institutions, and engaging in corruption prevention initiatives.
Whistleblowing encourages individuals to report corruption when they encounter it. Three years ago, in 2021, we declared the Sunday before July 11 as Anti-Corruption Sunday. Christian ethical standards, rooted in biblical teachings, are higher than societal norms. For Christians, corruption includes: Engaging in dishonesty or bribery, Using public office for private gain, and Knowing the good to do and failing to do it.
On this Africa Anti-Corruption Day, we emphasize the importance of collaborative action and a multi-stakeholder approach to effectively address corruption. It is crucial for people of faith, governments, civil society organizations, private sector entities, and citizens to work together to build robust anti-corruption frameworks and implement comprehensive measures to prevent, detect, and prosecute corrupt practices.
In a press statement issued in Abuja, Dr. Orinya Agbaji, Program Manager of PPJ, highlighted biblical examples of anti-corruption crusaders:
- The workmen during King Joash’s reign: “They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers because they acted with complete honesty.” (2 Kings 12:15, NIV)
- Daniel: “The administrators and satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.” (Daniel 6:4, NIV)
- Nehemiah: “Neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. But out of reverence for God I did not act like that.” (Nehemiah 5:14-16, NIV)
- John the Baptist: “Don’t collect any more than you are required to… Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.” (Luke 3:12-14, NIV)
Dr. Orinya noted that the Pentecostal family has now instituted mechanisms to engage in the fight against corruption. In 2023, over 200 Pentecostal Churches across Nigeria celebrated Anti-Corruption Sunday and committed to observing it annually. This year, 264 partners in the 6 geopolitical zones where PPA has a presence will mark the day by preaching anti-corruption sermons, organizing pep talks, holding rallies in schools, conducting social media campaigns, and joining webinars on July 11 organized by Ministers Against Corruption, Christian Women Against Corruption, and Youth Vanguard Against Corruption.
Dr. Orinya emphasized that Christians have a responsibility to stand against corruption, calling it a sinful social order that opposes God’s purposes for governance. He urged governments to prioritize anti-corruption efforts and allocate adequate resources to combat corruption, while also calling on individuals, businesses, and organizations to embrace ethical practices and reject corrupt behaviors.
In closing, Dr. Orinya called on all Nigerians, especially Pentecostals, to support this year’s theme, “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption,” and to reinstate the dual mandate of the church to establish and institutionalize social arms as instruments to fight corruption and social injustice. He urged all PPA beneficiaries, particularly those in the 26 states where PPA is present, to mark the day by taking various actions aligned with the ongoing leader’s month of action, such as preaching anti-corruption messages, organizing rallies, and holding pep talks to raise awareness about the costs and consequences of corruption.
For more information:
Dr. Agbaji Orinya
aorinya@priestsassembly.org