Incessant financial requests from constituents making MPs corrupt – Cletus Avoka

Member of Parliament for Zebilla constituency, Cletus Avoka, attributed corruption within the Legislature to unreasonable demands imposed on lawmakers, particularly by the public and constituents.

In a conversation with Starr FM, Avoka underscored the challenges faced by MPs due to incessant financial requests.

He revealed that these demands make it practically impossible for MPs to refrain from engaging in corrupt activities.

Mr Avoka highlighted that many MPs divert their focus from legislative duties to use their positions for business, driven by the constant financial pressures they face.

He stressed the need for understanding from the media, emphasizing that requests for healthcare expenses, wedding contributions, and school fees contribute to the public’s perception of corruption.

He described a scenario where MPs are inundated with financial requests daily, making it difficult for them to allocate funds after spending long hours in parliamentary debates.

“If I’m not corrupt, how can I maintain my seat? You have to be corrupt in one way or another. You have to look for more resources. If you have to look for more resources, you have to go out and do some work for a contractor. As a lawyer, maybe prepare a bill, or do this and that and whatnot? So I have half attention here, and half attention outside because I need more resources to be able to maintain my seat.”

Mr Avoka acknowledged that financial constraints often lead MPs to engage in external activities to generate income, supporting the assertion that such circumstances justify the perception that all MPs are corrupt.

In response to whether this situation justifies labeling all MPs as corrupt, Mr Avoka affirmed that maintaining one’s seat often requires seeking additional resources, leading to engagement in external activities for income generation.

He expressed the dilemma MPs face, needing to divide their attention between parliamentary responsibilities and external endeavors to meet the financial demands placed upon them.

“Everyday MoMo. Everyday MoMo. Somebody is sick and has to go to the hospital, you have to send money, somebody is going to do a wedding you have to send money, they are going to do outdooring, they are asking for you. They are asking for school fees and whatnot.

“Many of us lose the election or Primaries not because we are not doing well but because we’re not giving money out. How do you give money out if you come and stay in parliament for 8 hours debating? You’re debating for 5 or 8 hours, you go home in the evening to sleep, and the following day you have no money to send. You have to go out and look for the money.”