By Terka
Jam
Leading an agency as
sensitive as the EFCC requires two things mainly. You have to be strategic and
dead to sentiments in whatever form or guise. But recent events in the EFCC and
the Office of the National Security Adviser have made a mockery of the fight
against corruption. You can't go to war without a strategy. It is beyond the
media hullabaloo and social media hysteria. The Office of the National Security
Adviser is as important as the air we breathe. But I have been really
disappointed and pained and decided to put this piece together.
In truth, Nigeria
has made considerable inroads in the fight against corruption, but with tiny
input from the EFCC. I won't hesitate to give credit to the Department of State
Security Service for very obvious reasons. Make no mistakes; I think one of the
best decisions President Buhari has taken since coming into office was the
choice of the Director General of the DSS and the attendant reorganisation
witnessed. And one of the worst mistakes he has made also was the selection of
the head of the EFCC and the choice of the National Security Adviser.
I will explain why.
How can someone come out in the open to say some of his relatives were using
his name to exploit people, and it ended there? That was what Mr. Magu said on
the pages of newspapers. There was no account anywhere of him bringing those
relatives to account for their despicable conduct. How can the National
Security Adviser not be aware of that members of a highly sensitive committee
under his watch are busy cutting corners and enriching themselves? What manner
of anti-corruption war are we fighting? Your guess is as good as mine.
I will use a not so
perfect example. President Buhari once fired his chief security officer for
acts unbecoming of him because no individual is bigger than the country. The
interest of the country should surpass all other interests, whether personal,
ethnic or religious as the case may be. And it is ordinarily expected that
President has to wield the big stick on the EFCC and the NSA in this case.
The EFCC chair, Mr.
Magu is busy pointing accusing fingers. And that is the problem we have in this
country. As a fact, I was so disgusted when I read in one of the online
newspapers how the Chief of Staff to President Buhari is plotting to remove
from office the EFCC chair. It was that bad. And I knew almost immediately that
it was a sponsored campaign. Then I asked myself. Isn't this a mockery of the
efforts of Mr. President?
I am also disappointed
in the NSA Major-General Mungono, who is supposed to be one of the trusted
allies of President Buhari. It was not possible that Air Commodore Umar
Muhammed (retd) who was arrested by the DSS for alleged fraudulent deals
involving top government officials could have acted without Monguno's
involvement or knowledge as the National Security Adviser? And if the NSA so
feign ignorance then does it not translates to incompetence? The ONSA had
earlier issued a statement which has drawn the attention of Nigerians to the
possible involvement of his office and the implication is that he can no longer
be trusted with the investigation and therefore should tow the path of honour.
If President Buhari is serious
about making headway in the fight against corruption in the country, the EFCC
head should be redeployed back to force headquarters, and a more exposed and
strategic officer be given the job as a first. Secondly, the idea of
presidential panels should be discontinued immediate effect because of the
embarrassment some of its members have caused the nation.
Only recently the
Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has asked the NSA, Major-General
Mohammed Monguno to resign over the alleged shady dealings uncovered by the DSS
at the Presidential Investigative Committee on Arms Procurement. I can't agree
less with their position because it's such an embarrassment and rubbishes the
anti-corruption stance of President Buhari.
The president must
understand that some people are bent on rubbishing his war against corruption.
And it's quite sad. We have been washed with tales of how members of such committees
have been helping themselves to the bank. And I call them the enemies within.
They should stop pointing accusing fingers and sponsor meaningless petitions
against the Chief of Staff in the media.
It is hoped that
President Buhari will act in the interest of the country. We must not continue
like this in the interest of peace and tranquillity. We are watching likewise
the world especially when there are speculations that the anti-corruption war
is selective. In this instance, the rational thing for the EFCC chair and the
NSA to do is to tender their resignation and save us this embarrassment. And
the country would be better for it.
Jam writes from No7 Wukari Street , Katsina Ala ,
Benue State .
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