Ribadu: unholy alliance working to scuttle anti-graft war

The Federal Government should remain steadfast in its commitment
to the anti corruption war because “there is an unholy alliance of
corrupt people in and out of government” trying to derail it,
former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman
Nuhu Ribadu said yesterday.

In his view, the anti-corruption war is working, but Nigerians
must resist those in high places who want to scuttle it.

Ribadu said EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu and his team were
doing a great job and needed the support of well-meaning
Nigerians.

He said some Nigerians may not like Magu’s face or his strategy,
it should never be a reason for rejection of fundamental truths and
his good job.

Ribadu, who spoke at the fifth anniversary of Connected
Development (CODE), a non-governmental organisation in Abuja, said
those who had been stumbling blocks to the war against corruption
clearly did not understand or feel the biting impact of
corruption.

He said: “There is no doubt that the current anti-corruption
regime in the country is working. We have seen the feat attained in
recent past and the ongoing effort to stall it.

”We, as Nigerians, must also stand to be counted on the
intractable issue which poses a bigger challenge, the corruption
malaise. Importantly, at a time like this, when a clear line is
re-emerging, demarcating agents of progress and those bent on
stopping them, as citizens, we have a duty not to be on the fence
but make a clear choice between these contending forces.

“Nigerians must take a stand between those who are working
diligently to get back our stolen money and those who are poised to
scuttle such efforts.

“We are witnessing essentially a classical case of state capture
in which individuals, including those in high public office, use
their position to undermine the state and its policies because of
their personal interest.

“Unfortunately, some people who are supposed to be part of
efforts at restitution are colluding with those who have stolen our
commonwealth to frustrate the work of those who are genuinely
committed in reversing the ugly trend.

“And as this unholy alliance of corrupt people in and out of
government takes root, it is us, the ordinary Nigerians, that are
the victims.”

“Those who have been a stumbling block to the war against
corruption clearly do not understand or feel the biting impact of
corruption.

“If they do, they would not put up the kind of resistance we are
currently witnessing in the efforts to make a success of the
anti-corruption war.”

To Ribadu, Magu and his team has been performing well and they
ought to be supported.

“At the implementation level, I am of the opinion that Ibrahim
Magu and his team are doing a great job and they need the support
of all well-meaning Nigerians.

“ I know how tough this work is, and I can appreciate the
challenges they are contending with. We must support and encourage
them. Not because we like or dislike them but because they are
offering a selfless national service, and they are doing it very
well,” he said.

Ribadu said it was wrong to personalize the attack against Magu
and the EFCC.

“Yes, you may not like someone’s face or even disagree with his
strategy but that should never be a reason for you to reject
fundamental truths and the good things that such a person is
doing,” he said, adding:

“It is also no excuse for you to personalise your duty or
responsibility or undermine efforts that are beneficial to us as a
country.

“I have chosen to take a stand on this because I have passed
through this myself and I see similar signs of those dark moments
of 2007 hovering all over us.

“It is always a dangerous cocktail when some corrupt elements in
power decide to side with private interests outside government,
using the rule of law as a ruse, to muscle sincere efforts to
tackle corruption.”

The ex-EFCC chairman said the nation was yet to finish paying
for the mistakes of 2007 and the years after.

He said Nigerians should not allow history to repeat itself.

He said: “We haven’t yet finished paying for the mistakes of
2007 and the years after. We should not allow history to repeat
itself in this regard.

“Personally, I believe this administration is doing a wonderful
and patriotic duty by putting the fight against corruption on the
front burner. Corruption is a serious ailment afflicting this
nation and by facing it headlong, the Buhari administration is
doing us a whole lot of service.”

Ribadu urged the youthful members of CODE to join the
anti-corruption crusade.

The Federal Government should remain steadfast in its commitment
to the anti corruption war because “there is an unholy alliance of
corrupt people in and out of government” trying to derail it,
former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman
Nuhu Ribadu said yesterday.

In his view, the anti-corruption war is working, but Nigerians
must resist those in high places who want to scuttle it.

Ribadu said EFCC Acting Chairman Ibrahim Magu and his team were
doing a great job and needed the support of well-meaning
Nigerians.

He said some Nigerians may not like Magu’s face or his strategy,
it should never be a reason for rejection of fundamental truths and
his good job.

Ribadu, who spoke at the fifth anniversary of Connected
Development (CODE), a non-governmental organisation in Abuja, said
those who had been stumbling blocks to the war against corruption
clearly did not understand or feel the biting impact of
corruption.

He said: “There is no doubt that the current anti-corruption
regime in the country is working. We have seen the feat attained in
recent past and the ongoing effort to stall it.

”We, as Nigerians, must also stand to be counted on the
intractable issue which poses a bigger challenge, the corruption
malaise. Importantly, at a time like this, when a clear line is
re-emerging, demarcating agents of progress and those bent on
stopping them, as citizens, we have a duty not to be on the fence
but make a clear choice between these contending forces.

“Nigerians must take a stand between those who are working
diligently to get back our stolen money and those who are poised to
scuttle such efforts.

“We are witnessing essentially a classical case of state capture
in which individuals, including those in high public office, use
their position to undermine the state and its policies because of
their personal interest.

“Unfortunately, some people who are supposed to be part of
efforts at restitution are colluding with those who have stolen our
commonwealth to frustrate the work of those who are genuinely
committed in reversing the ugly trend.

“And as this unholy alliance of corrupt people in and out of
government takes root, it is us, the ordinary Nigerians, that are
the victims.”

“Those who have been a stumbling block to the war against
corruption clearly do not understand or feel the biting impact of
corruption.

“If they do, they would not put up the kind of resistance we are
currently witnessing in the efforts to make a success of the
anti-corruption war.”

To Ribadu, Magu and his team has been performing well and they
ought to be supported.

“At the implementation level, I am of the opinion that Ibrahim
Magu and his team are doing a great job and they need the support
of all well-meaning Nigerians.

“ I know how tough this work is, and I can appreciate the
challenges they are contending with. We must support and encourage
them. Not because we like or dislike them but because they are
offering a selfless national service, and they are doing it very
well,” he said.

Ribadu said it was wrong to personalize the attack against Magu
and the EFCC.

“Yes, you may not like someone’s face or even disagree with his
strategy but that should never be a reason for you to reject
fundamental truths and the good things that such a person is
doing,” he said, adding:

“It is also no excuse for you to personalise your duty or
responsibility or undermine efforts that are beneficial to us as a
country.

“I have chosen to take a stand on this because I have passed
through this myself and I see similar signs of those dark moments
of 2007 hovering all over us.

“It is always a dangerous cocktail when some corrupt elements in
power decide to side with private interests outside government,
using the rule of law as a ruse, to muscle sincere efforts to
tackle corruption.”

The ex-EFCC chairman said the nation was yet to finish paying
for the mistakes of 2007 and the years after.

He said Nigerians should not allow history to repeat itself.

He said: “We haven’t yet finished paying for the mistakes of
2007 and the years after. We should not allow history to repeat
itself in this regard.

“Personally, I believe this administration is doing a wonderful
and patriotic duty by putting the fight against corruption on the
front burner. Corruption is a serious ailment afflicting this
nation and by facing it headlong, the Buhari administration is
doing us a whole lot of service.”

Ribadu urged the youthful members of CODE to join the
anti-corruption crusade.