Corruption: There’ll be no sacred cow -Jonathan (Are You Sure?)

Posted by admin Latest Politics Tuesday, September 6th, 2011

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has vowed that his administration will not shield any corrupt person from investigation or prosecution by the anti-graft agencies in the country.

The president, who gave the assurance on Monday, at the opening ceremony of the 8th national seminar on economic crimes holding at the Training and Research Institute of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abuja, promised that government would continue to support and encourage the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies to confront the monster of corruption more decisively and charged them to spare no culprit regardless of his status or position.

“We will give all the necessary support and encouragement to all the anti-ccorruption agencies to vigorously enforce the enabling anti-corruption laws. I urge these agencies to do their work fairly but firmly within the ambit of the law without regard to position or status. There shall be no sacred cow. This government will not protect any so-called sacred cow. The wheel of justice must run its full course in tackling anti-corruption cases.”

Jonathan, who was represented at the event by Vice-President Namadi Sambo, said that his government was committed to fighting graft and saving the nation the horrific effects of corruption.

According to him, ”I congratulate the EFCC for the results recorded so far. I urge the commission not to rest on its oars for the job ahead is daunting but surmountable. There are still huge stolen assets left unrecovered abroad in safe havens. The commission must work hard in collaboration with the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, the designated central authority to recover and return those funds.

“Government appreciates the peculiar challenges facing anti-graft agencies. It will do everything possible within the law to facilitate the work of the agencies. At this juncture, I would like to specially congratulate the chairperson, Mrs Farida Waziri, for the tremendous achievements she has been making during this period. Billions of dollars and naira have been retrieved. You must continue with the good work and we shall continue to give you all the support.

“It is important to stress that fighting corruption is our collective burden. Every person pays the cost of corruption directly or indirectly. The lack of power, that bad road, that hospital without drugs and basic medical facilities, that dilapidated school, that borehole that bore no water, all of which huge sums have been expended are the costs of corruption we all pay and will continue to pay if we do not stand up and confront the monster.

“All well-meaning Nigerians must, therefore, not only say no to corruption but also do something about it. Every little effort counts; whistle blowing, vigilance in budget implementation and projects monitoring, calling public officers to account; all go a long way towards assisting the anti-corruption effort. The historic signing of the Freedom of Information Bill into Law in 2011 has provided citizens with a veritable instrument to contribute to strengthening accountability and transparency in the public sector.

“The private sector equally has a big role to play. There can be no successful corruption in the public sector without connivance and collaboration with the private sector. Therefore, multinationals and private businesses must adopt and implement transparency codes and hold their officials to account for all financial dealings. Bribe increases the cost of projects astronomically, hinders global competitiveness and is a major disincentive to investments. We must, therefore, work to prevent it.”

Also, in a keynote address, the president of Liberia, Mrs Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, took a historical excursion into the travails of her country, lamenting the nation’s huge losses to graft and poor governance, in spite of the enormous natural resources available in the country. Johnson-Sirleaf said that through “structural and systemic reforms,” she had succeeded in steering Liberia out of “systemic and suicidal corruption level”. She gave the credit to the independence of the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission, fashioned after the EFCC and with unfettered freedom to carry out its job.

While commending Waziri for her outstanding performance as the EFCC chairman, Johnson-Sirleaf said governments of both Liberia and Nigeria must continue to instill “in our citizens the values we have lost. We should live within our means and always earn whatever we have.”

In her welcome address, Waziri described national economic and security challenges as man-made and largely traceable to corruption, where a few individuals were bleeding the wealth of the nation and causing great pain to the larger society.

Waziri said the corruption of a few had caused and was causing crushing and debilitating poverty and unemploy-ment, adding that “this poverty has led to despair and anger which, in many cases, has ignited violent unrest with attendant unpleasant consequences, including loss of innocent lives and property.”

According to her, in spite of the corruption-made deteriorating state of affairs of the nation, a few were still working daily to make the situation even worse.

While commending President Jonathan and the National Assembly for passing and signing into law two important pieces of legislation – the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 and the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011, Waziri described the laws as complementary to the EFCC Act 2004, the ICPC Act 2000 and the Code of Conduct Act in the fight against corruption and terrorism financing.

She assured the president that the EFCC, in collaboration with sister agencies, would imple-ment these laws to realise their spirit and intent.

In his remark, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Bello Adoke, said the theme of the seminar was apt, given the present state of interde-pendencies and connecti-vity of global economies.

He said his office had taken serious, the issue of stolen asset recovery, adding that ”this is borne out of the desire to ensure that corrupt persons are not only punished, but are prevented from enjoying the proceeds of their crimes.”

In his goodwill message the head of delegation of the European Union, Ambassador David Macrae commended the EFCC in its efforts towards ensuring good governance in Nigeria.

“Various anti-graft agencies play a key role all over the world in impro-ving good governance and contributing to the develop-ment process of countries. Nigeria is not an exception. Here, the EFCC, among other agencies, is playing a key role in fighting corruption and evolving the political and democratic process,” he said.

He also said the EU’s cooperation with the Federal Government of Nigeria was intended to strengthen existing insti-tutions, with a view to improving their performance and results.

-Tribunewp_posts