The present government has at several times promised to wage a relentless war with the scourge that has continued to under-develop the polity on all ramifications. With its benefits, all hands were put on deck to put a stop to this menace.
The present government has at several times promised to wage a relentless war with the scourge that has continued to under-develop the polity on all ramifications. With its benefits, all hands were put on deck to put a stop to this menace.
Ibrahim Magu, appointed by President Muhammedu Buhari, to lead the war against corrupt officials in his inaugural speech, pointed an accusing finger inwards and made it clear that any corrupt EFCC officials has no place in the fight against corruption. With this punch-line statement and his requisite credentials, it appears he is ready to get the job done.
The agency, known for its favoritism in its fight against corruption, one begins to wounder how he will get the job done. Sooner than later, he tow the path of his predecessor and estooped from reneging on his promise as the agency has always appear as a persecuting tool use to cow perceived political opponents.
The agency should be told, that sectionalism and nepotism are also an act of corruption. It is wrong to view stealing of government fund as the only form of corruption.
The playing of lip-service towards corrupt related issue against members of the present administration and the subsequent arrest of members of the past administration is as well an act of corruption, more rapacious than those they claim are corrupt.
This is not an Ibrahim Magu issue, or his predecessor, it is a fact, a nature of the organization. Since its inception in 1999 as an institution to combat financial crime related offense, its fight has been vindictive, biased, meritorious. This is why the fight against corruption has been counter-productive, instead of it abating corruption, corruption is on the rise and much as every government deceive the poor masses of its victory, corruption is waxing stronger because when the President's ally is accused of corruption, it is glossed over because the president is above the rule of law and cannot be subjected to due process but when it is committed by an opposition, it is an act of corruption and it must be dealt with to serve as deterrent to others.
To prove my point, let me take you on a ride down memory lane. During the Obasanjo regime and the tenure elongation of the national assembly, the pro-third term legislators were accused of receiving N50 million bribe. What did the EFCC do? What did the EFCC do regarding the allegation involving the former Governor of River State where it was alleged that the sale of the Rivers State gas turbine was misappropriated, totaling a whopping sum of N94 billion. The controversial N78milion naira spent by the former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Fashola, on his website, what did the EFCC do?
Today, the aforementioned duo are enjoying ministerial appointment and some of the pro-third term accuse legislators have gone higher in their political pursuit.
With this unfolding events, one begins to wounder if the EFCC is truly an independent organization that can discharge its statutory duties without fear or favor.
As the constitution of the EFCC allows the president of the country to appoint its chairman and board, subject to confirmation by the senate, in the same vein, the president has the power to sack the EFCC boss should he be disloyal. Therefore, every actions of the EFCC is directed by the presidency which simply means, the EFCC cannot do what it wants to do. How then is the commission independent as it claim to appear? This has been the bane of the fight against corruption.
Is this not deceit?
The EFCC boss and the presidency ought to rise above primitive sectionalism, having the knowledge that no president can triumph at the election with votes only from his region, just as the president tried thrice and fail with only the northern votes.
The economy is in recession, Nigerians are hungry, jobs are being lost, there is starvation in the land. President Muhammedu Buhari should stop chasing shadows, he needs to come clean on his fight againsy corruption and more also, rally all segments of the polity to reverse the economic recession and the only way to do that is to purge himself off corrupt officials, whether they are members of the Peoples Democratic Party or his ruling All progressive Congress.
The EFCC as the arrow head of the fight against corruption needs to be re-branded to make it truly independent. The EFCC cannot claim to be independent when the source of its fund is directly from the president. He who pays the piper detects the tune.
Until the EFCC is re-branded, it remains the blackest, dirtiest, more corrupt than those it claimed to be corrupt.
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