Corruption is one of the most widespread social evils in Nigeria; it is seen as a main threat in the public and private sphere. Corruption undermines fragile democratic systems by fuelling popular disillusionment with politics and politicians; it also undermines trust and confidence, which are necessary for upholding and development of sustainable economic and social order. Corruption is not only peculiar to Nigeria, it is a global phenomenon. However, anti-corruption war in Nigeria is like a gun-war being fought with bows and arrows, it is a war that can turn its fighters into victims and those being fought into heroes, it is a war that both sides manipulate to gain personal and political points, it is a ‘world’ of controversies, politics, extensive debates and high public expectations.
EFCC is the central
institution saddled with the responsibility of fighting Nigeria’s
anti-corruption war. The Commission and its helmsmen were recently
featuring in the news in positive as well as negative pictures, both at
local and international media. EFCC and its protagonists hold the view
that, the Commission is on the right track; while its antagonists and
some public commentators have observed some
lapses in the
manner the Commission is executing its mission.
On the street opinion
about the Commission and the anti-corruption war in Nigeria is mixed;
most Nigerians believe that it is "impossible" to root out corruption
especially in within the political class, and there is general public
consensus that, Nigeria needs a dogged anti corruption agency, but
public trust on EFCC is regrettably fast diminishing. This entails that,
what we have is not what ought to be! There is need for Nigeria’s anti
corruption body and the men and women steering its affairs to make
adjustments; shift ground and start ‘the big thinking’, because the
Nigeria in which the anti graft Commission was born, is today entirely a
new one¯ the catchphrase in today’s Nigerian polity is ‘Rule of Law’,
which many people are accusing the Commission of being not adherent to,
though, EFCC’s protagonists are of the view, forces against the
Commission are hiding behind ‘Rule of Law’ to cut the Commission’s
feathers.
Whichever way one
looks at it, it is apparent that EFCC is in a tied situation, because it
appears that, it’s past; especially its pre-2007 elections actions are
hunting the Commission. But how would the EFCC and its new helmsman
confront these thorny challenges facing them? In order to sustain the
goodwill it is enjoying from international community; and cleans the
stains on its face that is making some Nigerians critical of it.
What are these
adjustments that EFCC is expected to do? And ‘the big thinking’
Nigerians expect it new helmsman to do? First things that this writer
believes are paramount for the new helmsman of EFCC to have in his mind
are: anti-corruption Czars rarely talk in public, but when they do, they
carefully choose their words. Anti-corruption Czars can’t wine and dine
with corrupt politicians, attend their lavish wedding ceremonies, be
present at their extravagant traditional title investiture or personal
project fund raising ceremony, then expect complete public trust. When
one accepts to be the Head of an institution like EFCC, he or she has
chosen to be a ‘saint’, and must labor to appear as one, though, as
human, we have our weakness, but the point is, Anti-corruption Czars
can’t preach fasting in the morning and practice gluttony in the night.
The anti-corruption
war in Nigeria and particularly EFCC as an institution responsible for
fighting the war, have to be align with the current realities, because
public morals may loosen, and the battle against corruption may well be
lost if Nigeria’s anti-corruption war is continue to be affected by
controversies which are political in nature and EFCC continue to stick
to its current style of prosecuting it mission- The situation where
EFCC slammed 120 count charges on a person accused of being corrupt
while in public office, and none of the charges can be established,
should be replace with an approach that is multifaceted,
multidisciplinary and knowledge-driven; an approach that would assist
all institutions of government in re-establishing norms and standards of
governance, assists the public, NGOs and even the legislature in
monitoring of compliance with the standards; help in restoring social
order especially in politics; and promotes advocacies and capacity
building among genuine whistleblowers, in short, Nigeria’s
anti-corruption war should not only be limited to arrests, arraignment
of accused in courts of law and unnecessary controversies.
EFCC should explore
the inter-nations technical co-operation on corruption, to develop
mechanism that would help Nigeria have a system that discourages
outright stealing of public fund, and develop an anti-corruption war
that relied on forensic evidence, well-trained personnel and free of
unnecessary controversies. EFFC should, this time-around, effectively
utilize the provisions in the National Assembly Act 2004, establishing
it. For instance, Part
III, section 12, subsection 1(c) and subsection (2), which provided for
establishment of Research Unit; and any committee to assist the
commission, are good avenues for the commission to explore to bring
itself at par with Nigerians expectations. However, the best weapon the
new helmsman of EFFC have, is, adherence to rule of law, because with
the current uncompromising stand on adherence to Rule of Law, by
President Yar’Adua, any disregard of Rule of Law will not only send
one to kuru, it may send one to Kirikiri.
Zayyad
I. Muhammad writes from Jimeta, Adamawa state
zaymohd@yahoo.com
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