Resist Pressures from Politicians to Succeed, CHRICED Tells New EFCC Boss
The Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED) has urged the new chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, to cultivate the courage to fight corruption with all his abilities.
CHRICED executive director, Dr. Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, said in a press release on Friday that Bawa “must stave off pressures from entrenched political interests, which have over the years undermined the anti-corruption campaign. Although the act of appointing the EFCC Chairman is facilitated by well-heeled political forces, the occupant of the office must however maintain serious distance from all political interests, if it is to project integrity and legitimacy.
“As such, CHRICED calls on the new Chairman to work assiduously to tackle all pending cases of corruption, no matter the personality, political or ethno-religious affiliation of the persons involved.
“One way to demonstrate this kind of resolve is to put in place a mechanism to resurrect and diligently prosecute several cases, which appear to have been abandoned by the Commission. Importantly too, CHRICED calls on the EFCC to expand its focus beyond the grand scale corruption happening at the federal level. It is critical for EFCC, and sister anti-corruption agencies to show enduring interest in what is happening in the states and local government, where incidents of petty corruption and financial crimes are equally pervasive”, he said.
Zikrullahi added that “This call becomes imperative because corruption at the level of the grassroots is seriously affecting the lives of citizens because it worsens already devastating social conditions. Corruption in basic service delivery such as education, healthcare, rural infrastructure is taking a serious toll on governance at the local government and community level. This anomaly is making citizens lose faith in democracy, and its ability to bring about development.
“Finally, CHRICED hopes the new EFCC Chairman will act at all times on the side of the people of Nigeria, to whom he ultimately owes his allegiance. If he stands with the people to fight corruption, his name will be recorded in the right place in history. However, if he decides to do otherwise, generations to come will be there to review his record.”
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