SAN FRANCISCO, August 05, (THEWILL) – Pioneer chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, says the Buhari government is not doing badly in the fight against corruption, pointing out that if those involved in corruption feel the bitting impacts of corruption, they would not be putting up resistance.
Speaking at the fifth anniversary of Connected Development, CODE, in Abuja, he observed that those who should help the fight against corruption are using their high offices to collude with looters public funds to frustrate efforts of those genuinely committed to reversing the ugly trend.
Ribadu lamented that people in government and highly-placed persons in the society have captured the state, such that they are now undermining government policies and serve their selfish interest.
According to him, “There is no doubt that the current anti-corruption regime in the country is working. We have seen the feat attained in recent past and the ongoing effort to stall it.
“However, those who have been a stumbling block to the war against corruption clearly do not understand or feel the biting impact of corruption. If they do, they would not put up the kind of resistance we are currently witnessing in the efforts to make a success of the anti-corruption war.”
The former EFCC boss stressed that citizens in modern governance should not take the back seat, but must take the lead, set the agenda and monitor implementation of government programmes.
His words, “We are witnessing essentially a classical case of state capture in which individuals, including those in high public office, use their position to undermine the state and its policies because of their personal interest.
“Unfortunately, some people who are supposed to be part of efforts at restitution are colluding with those who have stolen our commonwealth to frustrate the work of those who are genuinely committed in reversing the ugly trend.
“And as this unholy alliance of corrupt people in and out of government takes root, it is us, the ordinary Nigerians, that are the victims.”
Ribadu argued that social accountability is a bottom up thing, which must be driven by the people to guarantee transparency and accountability in the society, stating that this will go a long way in tasking those in positions of responsibility to get value for their money.
He stated that the service citizens can render to the Nigerian society is the grassroots mobilisation for social accountability, adding that such will make democracy evolve for citizens to get the benefits of good governance.
According to him, “Mobilisation for social accountability is a bottom-up approach to development that can guarantee transparency and accountability in the society by ensuring that those who are in positions of responsibility are put to task and people get value for money.
“We should all get involved as citizens. This is the least we can do as responsible citizens, and with the availability of modern technology tools, such advocacies have been simplified and could make far-reaching impact in terms of policy and decision-making.
“Beyond this, we as Nigerians must also stand to be counted on the intractable issue which poses a bigger challenge-the corruption malaise. Importantly, at a time like this, when a clear line is remerging, demarcating agents of progress and those of bent on stopping them, as citizens, we have a duty not to be on the fence but make a clear choice between these contending forces.”
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