A civil society organisation (CSO), Campaign for Dignity in Governance has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen the fight against corruption to block avenues where corrupt practices were being perpetrated.
he group urged the general public and well-meaning Nigerians to be wary of the antics of some elements profiting from the proceeds of corruption that have been trying to rubbish the anti-corruption agency.
“It is apposite to unequivocally alert the general public and well-meaning Nigerians to be wary of the antics of some elements profiting from the proceeds of corruption that have been trying to rubbish the agency by tarnishing the image of the leadership,” the group said
Addressing the press in Lagos, the leader of the group, Rasak Olokoba said, ‘’The anti-corruption agencies (ACAs) were at a period perceived in some quarters as rabid hounds for persecution of political foes. In another season, fears were raised on “who shall watch over the Watchdogs?
“Despite these apprehensions, the agencies march on stridently to block strain of Corruption, on our scarce public funds. This is an inevitable imperative for the Government if it must meet with onerous duties to provide social infrastructure and welfare services for hapless Nigerians.”
The group said the EFCC is playing leading roles in the battle against corruption.
“ This is premised on the understanding that, “if we don’t kill corruption, it will kill us.” The social gangrene, however, viciously fights back. Virtually none of the helmsmen of the agency steered its ship without getting scathed, from Nuhu Ribadu to Ibrahim Larmode, Farida Waziri, Ibrahim Magu, up to the present chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa.”
The organisation said in order to prosecute a sustained campaign against corruption, it must necessarily be systemic, structural, social and global crusade, and that approach can be easily identified in the operations and focus of the EFCC in recent times.
It said Bawa-led EFCC under the outgone President Muhammad Buhari administration had initiated fundamental programmes aimed at ensuring effective delivery of the agency’s statutory mandate.
“It is apposite at this turning point in our history as we transit into the administration of the 7th presidency in the Fourth Republic that we should consolidate the initiative to combat crimes, graft and corruption. This is much more so, in the face of renewed vigour of resistance by high politically exposed persons to bring managers of the EFCC to disrepute and tarnish the image of the foremost anti-corruption institution. A cursory overview of the giant leaps of EFCC clearly reveals structural initiatives to assure that there are rebounds in the anti-corruption crusade .
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