The Executive Director Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Head, Transparency International (Nigeria), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said available evidence points to the fact that the Nigerian government is not keen on fighting corruption in the country.
According to Rafsanjani: “First and foremost, let us be clear: this government doesn’t appear to be committed to combating corruption. All the existing legal instruments designed to aid the fight against corruption are either suspended, diluted, or completely disregarded. For example, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Freedom of Information Act, and the Public Procurement Laws.
Regrettably, we have not witnessed the enforcement of these legal frameworks by this government. “Similarly, the manner in which the Executive arm of the government interferes in the activities of the anti-corruption agencies is a significant reason the fight against corruption seems ineffective, particularly in cases involving politically exposed individuals. However, when it comes to internet fraud committed by the so-called ‘Yahoo Boys,’ the agencies appear to be more successful. In cases involving politically exposed individuals, the anti-corruption agencies often face obstacles such as compromised files, intentional ignorance, or abandonment.
This is evident in the current Senate leadership case, which appears to be in limbo due to executive manipulation. Additionally, there are ministers in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) who face serious corruption allegations. Despite numerous damning petitions and cases against them, the President seems to disregard them. Such actions are demoralizing for the operatives of the anti-graft agencies.
“Since the current Government came on board, we haven’t seen that profound commitment either to strengthen the fight against corruption or block the leakages. For example, oil theft is still going on in connivance with public officials. corruption is still going on even the in Judiciary. Fighting corruption is not propaganda because lack of honesty and sincerity of purpose will make it fail.
“Since the current government came into power, we haven’t witnessed a profound commitment to either strengthen the fight against corruption or prevent leakages. For instance, oil theft continues to occur with the collusion of public officials, and corruption persists within the electoral system and even the judiciary. It is important to note that combating corruption is not mere propaganda, as the lack of honesty and sincerity of purpose can lead to its failure.”
We’ve lost the war on corruption — CLO
In his view, the National President of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Mr Igho Agheregha believes strongly that Nigeria has lost the corruption war given the way successive administrations have dealt with the issue of monumental corruption in the country.
Agheregha said: “We have lost the war. The vision of the various anti-corruption agencies, established by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was a leader that some Nigerians believed was committed to fighting corruption, has been shattered. After him, we saw Umar Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, both of whom made feeble attempts at combating corruption.
However, the worst of them all was former President Muhammadu Buhari, who claimed that if we did not fight corruption, corruption would kill us. Unfortunately, corruption prevailed, and Nigeria paid the price as he failed to take any decisive action. As for me, the war is lost. I don’t see President Bola Tinubu taking a comprehensive approach to fighting corruption. He rarely uses the term ‘anti-corruption’ publicly, and it has been more than five months since he assumed office. And, of course, Abdul-Rasheed Bawa, the former EFCC chairman, demonstrated a certain level of commitment in fighting corruption. He was prosecuting the current Senate president and numerous governors.
Some governors even claimed that he possessed a list of individuals to track and apprehend once they handed over power on May 29. However, in the end, Bawa himself was arrested. The hunter became the hunted, and corruption fought back.
“Therefore, in my opinion, those in charge are some of the most corrupt leaders Nigeria has ever witnessed,” the CLO leader claimed.