The Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Coalition with membership across 35 civil society organisations, has asked Nigerians to expose corrupt practices in the country for prosperity, peace and development.
Speaking at the coalition meeting attended with over 35 leading Civil Society Organisations across the country, the convener, Sina Odugbemi noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are not ticking all boxes but calling for the sack of its leadership is unnecessary at this time, adding that such a call may be exploited by the corruption ridden political class.
According to Odugbemi, civil groups have statutory responsibility in ensuring that corrupt politicians, groups, individuals with anti-corruption campaign and advocacy are brought to book. He further expressed the coalition worry over the politicization of the fight against corruption by politically exposed persons. Nigeria is currently at the mercy of corrupt politically exposed persons whose activities threaten the livelihood of the people apart from the dangers their conducts posed to sustainable development.
“We are deeply worry about the politicization in the fight against corruption by some politicians. We strongly condemn and warn politicians to stay clearly from the human rights community by promoting voices that seek to stem the anti-corruption campaign. We have a duty to defend human liberty one of which is to confront corruption which not only leads to poverty and misery adding that the civil society should defend institutions that genuinely confront corruption, the Anti-corruption advocate said.
He added, “We have a duty to defend human liberty one of which is to confront corruption which not only leads to poverty and misery adding that the civil society should defend institutions that genuinely confront corruption. Nigeria is currently at the mercy of corrupt politically exposed persons whose activities threaten the livelihood of the people apart from the dangers their conducts posed to sustainable development.
“We have been committed to constructive engagement of the leading anti-corruption group in Nigeria, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) would continue to offer genuine counsel and criticisms where necessary.
According to the Human Rights groups, the call for the resignation of the EFCC Chairman, Bawa are premature, unnecessary and unwarranted at this time of the polity. The groups also said some of those making the calls are respected people and organisations within the human rights community, adding that their position may have been informed by lack of adequate information.
It then called on the EFCC to sustain its civil society engagements instead of keeping itself away from popular platforms necessary to nurture many of its utilitarian policies.
“While we recognize that several miles are left uncovered, the fact is that the achievements represent remarkable movement forward and not backward. Corruption is like cancer. It diminishes the status of its host, destroys the fabric of the nation, fuels violence, human misery and even wars. Civil society organizations should oil the anti-corruption wheel instead of trying to be a cog in the cycle”, the group said.
The groups further condemn the political figures for constant corrupting the public voices to destroy anti-corruption institutions. Why the anti-graft agencies have their short comings, the plot to demystify and annihilate the EFCC through orchestrated campaigns is not only dangerous but inimical to the overall interest of millions of Nigerians who are victims of the horrendous misery arising from corruption.
According to the Anti-corruption coalition, Nigeria would have been worse without the EFCC, therefore urged civil society organisations to shun any inducement from people motivated by politicians to obliterate the gains already recorded by the anti-corruption institution. It further noted that the EFCC has recovered over 400 billion in the past one years, several convictions have been recorded, highly placed political figures are being charged to court and some of them convicted.
“While we recognize the imperatives of the rule of law, it is important to state that the logic of law itself should be exhausted by the stakeholders and not to be hijacked by any other politically-motivated interests. Where there is a pronouncement by a court of final jurisdiction on any matter involving the anti-graft agency, it has no option than to bow to the dictate of law. That is the only instrument needed to deepen the moral high ground of any anti-corruption agency needed to sustain public trust.
Meanwhile, some of the groups in attendance were the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA), Journalists for Democratic Rights, JODER, Nigerian Human Rights Community, NHRC, Civil Society Coalition for Mandate Protection, CSC-MAP, Rural Agenda for Development, RAD, among others.
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