Perturbed by the outcome of an international research that warned that, if corruption is not strongly fought and subdued, its impact by 2030 will cost the country 37% of its National Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a staggering $2,000 on each citizen, a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), at a world press conference yesterday in Lagos advised the new President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Tinubu on some step to take to succeed in the battle against graft in the country.
Addressing newsmen in Lagos State on behalf of other leaders, Comrade Razaq Olokoba said to avoid engendering pervasive despair and hopelessness in the polity, scientific and surgical scrutiny should be undertaken, through structural, massive social reforms and radical paradigm shifts, to quantitatively as well as qualitatively measure gains of Anti-Corruption crusades, admitting that “Corruption has become an unannounced, global, systemic institution that requires to be fought and won headlong.”
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While campaigning for a holistic approach, not limited as exclusive responsibilities of the executive agencies, but involving the legislative, judiciary arms, the entire gamut of society and global community, the coalition however is stunned by the antics of some elements profiting from the proceeds of Corruption that have been trying to rubbish the Agency and its leadership, therefore alerting the public to be on the lookout for the saboteurs.
The group commended the efforts of the Abdulrasheed Bawa led EFCC under the outgone President Muhammad Buhari administration for initiating fundamental programs aimed at ensuring effective delivery of the Agency’s statutory Mandates expressing the need that, “at this turning point moment in our history as we just transited into the administration of the 7th Presidency in the 4th Republic that, we should consolidate the initiative to combat crimes, graft and corruption.”
The coalition expressed the apprehension that, if the gains are not consolidated, tendencies are that the country would be dragged back regrettably asserting that, “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.”
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Abdur-Rasheed Bawa’s effort, according to Olokoba, has led to increased mass awareness and public engagements; added incentive for whistle blowing; improved collaborative intelligence gathering; global outreach through the “Eagle Eye App” for reportage from victims of corruption, home abroad; and easy access to broad Information communication technology systems,” disclosing that, the cardinal focus of the EFCC centres on policy reforms, domestications and execution of international treaties”
The coalition, therefore, recommended to President Tinubu’s administration some steps to give the agency under Bawa to be made more effective.
“The steps included but not limited to people’s ownership of the fight against corruption in the communities and neighbourhoods with mass based instruments like Mass Mobilisation for Social Economy Recovery (MAMSER), War Against Indiscipline and Corruption Brigades as well as strengthening institutional capacities of Anti-Corruption Agencies with requisite legislative enactments and introduction of Private investigation and prosecution of corruption cases.
“Against the foregoing, the new administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been urged that, as a matter of necessity should not only retain the Abdurasheed Bawa-led administration of the EFCC, but also strengthen it more vigorously with all the required tools and logistics to enable it accomplish all the plans towards successful fight against grafts it has commenced.
“President Tinubu should ignore all the detractors and the rented crowd of corruptly induced crowd of detractors, who do not mean well for the country. All the well-meaning Nigerians should also take time to study scientific approaches Bawa is introducing into the anti-grafts war with a view to understanding and be convinced about why the Bawa-led commission should be supported and allowed to be retained,” the coalition concluded.
Some members of the coalition at the conference were the Convener, Comrade Razaq Olokoba of the Campaign for Dignity in Governance (CDG) and Comrade Alex Omotehinse of Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) as co-convener.
Other co-conveners present at the press conference included Comrades Balogun Hameed of Frontliner Economy and Social Research, Ekundayo Shoyoyo of Progressive Volunteers, Omotaje Olawale Saint, Executive Director, Work Bond International Network, Obajare Enitan of Grassroots Youth League and Raji Oyewumi, MD, Movement for Democratic Change.