The Nation Newspaper

Tag: anti-corruption war

  • Mimiko warned not to frustrate Buhari’s anti-corruption war

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State yesterday warned Governor Olusegun Mimiko and the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Olisah Metuh, not to frustrate the anti-corruption war by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A statement by its Publicity Secretary, Omo’ba Abayomi Adesanya, said the fight against corruption was sacrosanct.

    The party said people voted for Buhari because he promised to stop corruption.

    It expressed worried at the alarm raised by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, on the allegation that some people wanted to use the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to witch-hunt their administration.

    APC said Mimiko and his aides should not be afraid if they did not mismanage the resources.

    The statement reads: “The fight against corruption is sacrosanct and indispensable. Nigerians voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the presidential election, among other reasons, because President Muhammadu Buhari promised to nip corruption in the bud. Therefore any attempt to jettison the fight will amount to breach of trust on our electoral promises to millions of Nigerians.

    “Corruption has been the clog in the wheels of our economic, industrial, infrastructural, educational and human development. Therefore the need to fight it with vigour and vitality is sacrosanct and non-negotiable.

    “Nigerians’ appeal to Mr. President is to be fearless, not to be deterred and to intensify more efforts against the menace called corruption, in order to bring culprits to book.

    “We are aware of the efforts by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum Chairman, Governor Mimiko, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, PDP leadership and former ministers under the ex-President Goodluck Jonathan administration to undermine and blackmail the anti-corruption crusade of the APC-led Federal Government by tainting and painting it as selective, witch-hunt, political attack and a mere time waster. The statement credited to the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, on August 1 that some people have concluded plans to write petitions against Governor Mimiko, Jonathan’s ministers and PDP leadership to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is baseless and amount to running away from one’s shadow.

    “We advise them not to be afraid if they are not corrupt, as President Buhari, whom the public and the international community have nicknamed ‘Mr. Integrity’, will be fair and just to all in the fight against corruption.”

  • Anti-corruption war not selective, says APC chieftain

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Ekiti State, Dr. Bayo Orire, has called on Nigerians to support the anti-corruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari to recover stolen wealth and enhance the standard of living.

    Orire, who spoke in a chat with The Nation, faulted claims in some quarters that Buhari’s anti-graft drive is targeted mainly at opposition politicians.

    According to him, the battle against corruption is targeted towards the good of all to restore integrity to governance and secure confidence of the international community.

    The former Chairman of Ekiti State Hospitals Management Board said the accusation of opposition leaders that Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade is selective could not hold water because some APC leading lights are also being prosecuted in court for corruption.

    He mentioned former Adamawa State Governor Murtala Nyako, former Bayelsa State Governor Timipre Sylva and wife of Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki, as APC chieftains under probe.

    The medical doctor-turned politician also expressed support for the establishment of a special court to try corruption-related cases to ensure that they are disposed of as quick as possible.

    He said: “This anti-corruption battle being waged by the president can never be selective because it is targeted towards the good of the country and it is across board because Buhari is not a kind of person that will be selective in the anti-corruption crusade.

    “We are in total support of the establishment of a special anti-corruption court that will look into corruption, fraud and other economic crimes within a short time frame having its own special laws approved by the legislature.”

  • ICAN backs Buhari’s anti-graft war

    ICAN backs Buhari’s anti-graft war

    • Ambode urges support

    The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) yesterday threw its weight behind President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after leading a delegation to President, its 51st President, Otumba Olufemi Samuel Deru said Buhari’s war is in line with ICAN’s professional integrity and accountability.

    He led the delegation on courtesy visit to the president after ICAN marked its Goldeen Jubilee.

    He said: “Government interest is our interest. We are into integrity and accountability. We have like minds. I’m so grateful to the President for giving us time to articulate our papers.

    “ICAN is the voice of business. Accountability is our business     and we uphold the tenets of transparency and we must be transparent in what we do.

    “We also have the whistle blowing fund so that anybody who misbehaves and they want to penalise our members, we have N50 million set aside to fight such course so that our people can work and be transparent and be unbiased.”

    Noting that not everybody that is called an accountant is a chartered accountant, he said chartered accountants are only 40,000 in number in Nigeria.

    On his part, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who is a chartered accountant, said what President Buhari has come up with in the last 100 days is about credibility and integrity for those in public offices.

    He said: “Buhari has come up with moral leadership in the last 100 days and that is what is needed to fight corruption in the country.

    “Nobody is judging anyone; what we have seen since May 29 is about strong leadership that had shown direction to all Nigerians; the mantra of such leadership that is being reflected by the president is what we are seeing in other states.

    “Everybody is beginning to feel that they must obey the rule of law. All revenue agencies are now paying to a single account and that makes everyone to be accountable.”

    Earlier, Governor Ambode  had appealed to members of ICAN to support ongoing anti-corruption and re-orientation efforts of President Buhari.

    Ambode spoke during the opening ceremony of the 45th Annual Conference of  ICAN, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, yesterday.

    He said the pivotal role played by accountants in the day-to-day running of government means that they must be above board in discharging their duties.

    He said: “I once heard someone says “only accountants can save the world-through peace, goodwill and reconciliations. That tells me that the people who can save Nigeria are in this hall today. We must kick-start that process now by developing mechanisms that will make it compelling for members of the Institute to exhibit a high level of integrity wherever we find ourselves.”

    According to him, as custodians and managers of financial resources, accountants must be above board and resist the temptation to compromise professional ethics and personal integrity.

    He also tasked accountants in the country to commence the process of raising the bar of integrity through a pragmatic rebuilding of the nation’s value system so as to redefine the vision of the profession.

    The governor recalled that since the establishment of ICAN in 1965, the Institute has lived up to the expectations and dreams of the founding fathers, which has berthed world class chartered accountants offering quality services at the top echelon of both the public and private sector organisations.

    “From a mere 250 members to over 40,000 membership, the Institute has, no doubt, made a remarkable achievement that is worth celebrating. This is in addition to the continuous reforms in response to the evolving changes in the 21st century.

    “Today’s celebration however, presents a golden opportunity for the present leadership to bequeath to the coming generation, legacies and landmarks that will be worthy of celebration in the next 50 years. That legacy, in my mind, can be found in our motto”Accuracy and Integrity,” he said.

    Stressing that there is going to be synergy between Lagos and Federal Government now that they are of the same party, he said  the last 100 days in Lagos State has been continuity with improvement.

    On whether he is probing his predecessor, he said: “I have said it is continuity with improvement.”

  • Anti-corruption war: APC Scandinavia supports Buhari

    Anti-corruption war: APC Scandinavia supports Buhari

    Lawal in a press release opined that it is inappropriate for anyone to say that the President’s efforts to address corruption in the Nigerian society, especially among government officials, is a waste of time.
    According to him, “In their perspective, the anti-corruption crusade is a waste of time and probing of the past administration is not a substitute for good governance.
    “If the so-called waste of time will bring sanity, discipline and recover our looted wealth and the perpetrators brought to book, the said time wasting will be one of the greatest dividends of democracy for Nigerians.”
    “Why no decry when the wicked and shameless crooks were bastardising our economy and turning Nigeria to a failed state.
    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” category=”6″ tag=”Scandinavia” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link” header_background=”#000000″ header_text_color=”#000000″]
  • Buhari faces dilemma in anti-corruption war

    Buhari faces dilemma in anti-corruption war

    President Muhammadu Buhari must be gradually facing up to the reality and complexity of ruling a country in a democracy, where things are not always what they seem. If he thought he had the liberty and exclusive right to circumscribe the boundaries of his war on corruption, he must by now be coming to terms with how grossly mistaken he is. It is no secret that Nigerians appear to be enjoying daily breaking news on the astounding sleaze that went on under the Goodluck Jonathan government. Indeed, already, some of the looted funds are being recovered or surrendered. In consequence too, reputations are being shredded, especially that of the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its backers and leaders.

    Those opposed to President Buhari’s anti-corruption war, or who oppose his methods, are beginning to fight back. They are presenting the president with a number of moral dilemmas. First, they suggest that the president has no moral, political or constitutional defence to limit the war to only his predecessor’s time in office, as he stated before assuming office and has reiterated since he assumed office. He should extend the probes farther down the line. Second, they also argue that those who financed his election did not use their personal funds but public funds, and must therefore be investigated as well.

    The president’s opponents are clearly not making these arguments from altruistic or patriotic points of view. They are simply determined to stymie the anti-corruption war, or failing that, to make the sky fall on everybody’s head. If the president should heed the call to expand the investigations, he risks making it unwieldy and impracticable. But whether he likes it or not, he will not be able to convince his opponents that no APC state government deserves to be investigated. And if he continues to shun the calls to expand the investigations, the campaign will only grow more deafening, if not even threatening.

    The president made a mistake from the beginning by inadvertently allowing his anti-corruption campaign to be conducted with fanfare and extravagant flourish. He of course had no choice but to call the last government to account, but he is president, and should have anticipated the reactions of his opponents, many of whom for sentimental reasons are still smarting badly from the humiliation they received at the last polls.

    But is the president really able to control or limit the manner and circumstances of the investigations? Could he order the EFCC to limit its investigations? Or could he persuade the media to de-emphasise selected reports? The president clearly faces a dilemma. One way out, probably the best way out, is for him to give better and bigger meat to the public and the media to chew. (See main article). While he continues his anti-corruption battles, perhaps on as many fronts as he wishes, let him more importantly refocus the attention of the country to his main blueprints for the radical make-over of Nigeria, away from corruption and EFCC/ICPC, and to governance and ideas for rebuilding Nigeria in the 21st century and beyond, along the change paradigm his party promised before the 2015 polls.

  • Akinyemi: Hurdles Buhari ’ll face in anti-corruption war

    Akinyemi: Hurdles Buhari ’ll face in anti-corruption war

    Former Minister of External Affairs Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi has advised the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to seek a constitutional amendment for his administration to win the war against corruption.

    Delivering an inaugural lecture at the Adeboye Centre for Peace and Good Governance of the Redeemer’s University, Ede, Prof. Akinyemi predicted that fighting and winning the war against corruption would be a herculean task for the Buhari administration.

    The former Deputy Chairman of the 2014 National Conference maintained that fighting corruption was not as easy as the citizens thought.

    “When we talk of government, we tend to think of the Executive branch. Yet the Bar and the Bench have done more to frustrate anti-corruption cases than the Executive. The Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) cannot jail corrupt public officials. They can only prosecute.

    “What the new Buhari administration should seek is a constitutional amendment that does four things. First, the amendment should abolish bail in all corruption cases. Secondly, the amendment should abolish option of fine. Thirdly, those with pending criminal cases should not be allowed to run for public office. Fourthly, the prosecution should be allowed to appeal against judges findings of ‘not guilty.’ This step will be a test of the seriousness of the incoming administration,” the former minister said.

    Prof. Akinyemi said apart from the Executive arm, the judiciary, the police and other government agencies should be active in the fight against corruption.

    On how unemployment played a key role in undermining national security, the former minister said the National Conference, in its report on Boko Haram, recommended a Marshall-like economic and social package to tackle unemployment and collapse of industries.

    Advising Buhari to prioritise his programmes, he said the citizens have identified three key issues – security, unemployment and corruption – as flagships of good governance.

    He said: “Factories, which closed down and migrated to other countries would have to be brought back through incentives and tax grace. In times of frustration, despondency and hopelessness, people turn for help and comfort from their spiritual roots. When they find no succour from their spiritual roots, they turn to revolution.

    “A study of the French and Russian revolutions will show that the churches and priesthood had suborned themselves to the establishment, leaving the people to seek inspiration and comfort from revolutionary ideas and movements.

    “In developing countries, where increasing urbanisation has dented the comfort zone provided by tight-night rural community, and where absence of good governance has created despair, religious organisations have stepped into the breach, preaching hope and salvation and directing restless energy and frustrations away from the streets.”

    Prof. Akinyemi said peace and good governance are promoted when religious organisations speak the truth to those in power and encourage faith and hope in a better tomorrow.

    Prof. Jide Osuntokun, who spoke on behalf of the centre, said Nigeria needed diplomats like Prof. Akinyemi and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu for the nation to regain its lost glory.

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who was represented by the Director-General, Awolowo Centre for Good Governance, Prof. Moses Makinde, described the theme of the lecture as apt, owing to the nation’s transition from civilian government to another.

    Congratulating the university and the organisers of the lecture, he said: “I hope that the stimulus provided by Prof. Akinyemi’s lecture would be matched by the responses from the audience and the university community.”