EFCC - One Sided in War Against
Corruption
EFCC came
into existence in 2004, and it was set up to fight corruption
without fear or favor. For sure, I am one of the few individuals
that are giving the EFFC praises for their frantic efforts to
eradicate corruption in our nation called Nigeria, since its
formation in 2004. I am wholeheartedly in support of war against
graft, and any necessary step or measure to expose past and
present leaders. This is why I always praise Nuhu Ribadu for all
his strenuous efforts to fight against corrupt individuals in
our society.
Time without number on the pages of newspapers, people accuse the EFCC of being very selective in their war against corruption,
and that Aso Rock uses the EFCC to deal with president
Obasanjo's political opponents. People even describe the
commission of being agent and enemy of democracy, as EFCC's
fight against graft is questionable, and that the commission is
being used for political intimidation and victimization against
Obasanjo's political opponents.
Since formation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
in 2004, I am now beginning to believe the war against graft has
been one-sided by the agents of the EFCC. People that were
ferociously dealt with by the EFCC are Obasanjo's political
foes. During the political perdition of Alamieyeseigha, the
impeached governor of Bayelsa state, he was dastardly dealt with,
without fear or favor by the agents of the EFCC. In the last
couple of years, Joshua Dariye, the incumbent governor of
Plateau state has been facing the fierce anger of the EFCC for
money laundering. Last two months, the business mogul Mr. Otunba
Mike Adenuga Jr., was arrested in Lagos by the agents of
the EFCC. His arrest was in other to incriminate the caliber of
vice president Atiku Abubakar, because Adenuga is believed to
lubricate the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar. I would
love to see our past and present thieving leaders
brought to justice, but when the war against corruption is
one-sided, one can consider it corruption itself.
The chummy relationship between the president and his vice went
sour when Atiku Abubakar first alerted the Nigerian people
about the foiled third term agenda to allow president Obasanjo
stay beyond 2007. Everyone was fully aware that the botched
third term agenda to elongate the tenure of Mr. President was
oiled by two Northern notable political colossuses, i.e. IBB and
Atiku Abubakar. After the failed sit-tight agenda beyond 2007,
it became obvious that those who opposed the sit-tight agenda
will face the fierce tidal wave of Obasajo's political power.
Knowing well who Obasanjo is, the aborted third term agenda is
the beginning of political tussle between the proponents and
opponents of the evil agenda called third term.
As Atuku was battling with the arrest of Adenuga, EFCC swooped
into his bank account, and confiscated all his financial
transactions, all in the name of fighting corruption. Now, it's IBB.
His son Mohammed was recently arrested and released. His arrest
was in connection with the probe of ownership of 24 per cent of
the shareholdings in Globacom, one of the nation's
telecommunication companies, the commission's operatives are
also looking into his investments in various banks, construction
companies and other high net worth firms. I would personally
like to see the recovery of looted funds from the past and
present leaders. But the manner in which the EFCC operatives are
going in their war against graft is no more encouraging.
The EFCC is after their master's political opponents. I just
read on the Vanguard news paper that EFCC nabs S-South
gov's in-law with $1.5m. This lady regained her freedom
immediately after some political big-wigs intervened. To access
the full story, go to:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/niger_delta/nd314082006.html
If Ribadu wants to restore his
respect and dignity, he should go after those south-south
governors, he accuses of using state's allocations to campaign
for the nation's presidency. Ribadu should do something about
the fraud at Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), should probe the
Transportation Ministry during the time of Chief Tony Anenih,
should probe the Transcore shares, and should also bring to
justice those supporters of the evil third term agenda who were
involved in "Ghana must go" scandal. If all these can be done by Ribadu, the faith of Nigeria and Nigerians can be renewed in
him. Until these things are done, Nigeria and Nigerians will
not believe that Mr. Ribadu is straightforward in war against
corruption, it does not matter his enormous amount of
international accolades.
Isaac Moses , August
16th, 2006
Chicago, USA
|
