EFCC Should Be Blamed For Corruption In Nigeria - Edwin Clark

Ijaw leader, Edwin Clark has blamed the anti-graft
agencies for President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration lack of success in the corruption
fight.
Clark said on Friday that the inept of the agencies
to investigate and prosecute corrupt cases
especially that of public office holders were
responsible for the various corruption allegations
against Jonathan stressing that rather than doing
proper job, the agencies are only focusing on
cyber crime and petty theft.
He urged Jonathan to re-organize the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Clark who addressed journalists in Abuja claimed
that the agency has not done enough stating that
the agency was due for reorganization and armed
with teeth for effective discharge of its mandate.
He also disagreed with the present orientation of
the agency waiting to receive petitions first before
investigating open cases against public office
holders faulting the report credited to the
Presidential candidate of the All Progressive
Congress, Muhammadu Buhari that his fight
against corruption will start on May 29, 2015 when
he would have be sworn-in as the President, if he
wins the March 28 Presidential elections.
He noted that it would be wrong to just ask those
who have looted the treasury to go and sin no
more noting that the implication of Buhari’s
statement was that those who were facing corrupt
charges or alleged of corruption before May 29,
2015 would be pardoned.
“Had the agencies charged with fighting corruption
been up and doing, no one will accuse President
Jonathan of not doing enough to fight corruption.
Given that nothing substantial is being done, one
is primed to advise Mr. President to immediately
reorganize the EFCC for effective discharge of its
mandate.”
“In all advanced democracies, anti-graft agencies
would swing into action following the kind of
revelations and allegations against most people
walking free on our streets today. Unfortunately,
our own anti graft agencies have simply adopted a
sidon look position,” he said.
Clark further stated that it was on that note that
Buhari changed the tune of his music as to when
he will begin his fight against corruption stating
that the APC is not qualified to fight corruption
contrary to what Buhari had said during his
campaign.
“General Muhammadu Buhari has always anchored
his campaign promises on two planks: to wipe out
insecurity and corruption. With the renewed
offensive against the terrorists leading to the killing
and dislodgement of the Boko Haran anarchists,
the first campaign plank of Buhari has been given
a technical knock-out by President Goodluck
Jonathan and the whole world is witnessing the
reclaiming of all territories hitherto held by Boko
Haram. This leaves him on a one-legged
platform.”
“Again on the remaining plank; corruption, General
Buhari himself got jittery and gave himself another
technical knockout when he said that he will not
probe past leaders. With this development, Buhari
has conceded that he has nothing more to offer
the good people of this country. I am puzzled to
hear Buhari say that ‘whoever has been indicted
on corruption between 1999 to the time of his
swearing-in would be pardoned.”
“According to him, like a village sports man, he
will draw a line, anybody who involves himself in
corruption after he assumes office on May 29,
2015 will face the music, while no matter how
corrupt a person has been before then, he/she
would be asked to go and sin no more. One
wonders if the man, Buhari knows what the law
says about corruption.”
“Will General Muhammadu Buhari’s proclamation
take the effect of law? What is Buhari really afraid
of? Why is he promising a blanket pardon to all
corrupt office holders before the election? Is that
his new selling point?” he asked.