As Africa marks 20 years of anti-corruption Strategy on Tuesday, the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu has said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will Vigorously fight against the menace.
In what seems as a response to the call by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Mathew Hassan Kukah and legal luminary, Femi Falana’s call on Tinubu on Monday to take a stand on the fight against corruption, NSA Ribadu, who is the pioneer Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Tinubu will vigorously pursue the fight against corruption.
Speaking at the inter-agency Task Team (IATT) African Anti-corruption Day 2023 in Abuja, with partners such as Macarthur foundation, UNODC and Centre for Democracy Development (CDD), Ribadu said since corruption has enormous effect on security, added that Tinubu will vigorously fight it.
Represented by Brig Gen AB Abubakar Laka, the NSA said corruption entails the mistreatment of public funds to the detriment of others.
“Detriment of corruption to insecurity is a serious issue. Even more disturbing is the negative mind people will have about the country.
“So, the anti-corruption fight of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is on the front burner and will be vigorously pursued.
“All hands must remain on deck to fight the menace until Africa is put on the right track,” Ribadu said adding that the anti-graft agencies should also focus on the root causes of corruption and promote value reorientation for moral character.
“The president will promote good governance and vigorously fight against corruption. The doors of the national security adviser are open to support the fight against corruption,” Ribadu added.
Also, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice Mrs Beatrice Jedy Agba, said they will support the anti-corruption agencies to do their work.
According to Beatrice, the Tinubu’s administration will support the anti-corruption agencies to fight corruption.
Speaking at the programme, Beatrice said corruption impedes the attainment of the sustainable development goals.
“We must take bold steps to combat corruption. It is indeed difficult to know that African countries are taking the back seat with some of the countries not doing enough in the fight against corruption,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) through it’s Director, Idayat Hassan, said it will continue to support initiatives aimed at curbing systemic corruption.
This commitment, according to CDD, extends to issues around bribery, political embezzlement, theft, fraud, gratifications, extortion and blackmail, abuse of office, favoritism, nepotism, and clientelism.
The Centre urges the remaining seven countries – Central African Republic, Cape Verde, Djibouti, Eritrea, Eswatini, Somalia, and South Sudan – to follow suit and embrace the vital initiative.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), 20 years after: Achievement and prospects”.
Idayat, represented by CDD Research Analyst, Afolabi Adekaiyoja encouraged anti-corruption agencies across the continent to up the ante on illicit asset recovery as there is still much more, domestically and internationally, to be traced and recovered.
While congratulating AU member states and stakeholders on the progress made in the last 20 years, she said there is still so much work to be done.
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