Who is after Obasanjo’s ‘boys’?

Who is after Obasanjo’s ‘boys’?
The EFCC was established by the former government of Obasanjo five years ago as an agency to combat advanced free fraud popularly known as 419 and related crimes. It became very popularly since its inception due to its dynamic and courageous leader, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The mere mention of EFCC and Ribadu send shudders through the spines of dubious public office holders, politicians, big time crooks and aspiring criminals.
The EFCC was able to restrict the reckless and extravagance spending in public offices, call to attention the activities of governors, local government chairmen, head of banks and business men alike. No one can say with certainty the reason why EFCC was redesigned, its powers reduced and its leadership disorganised and disoriented. But recent happenings are pointing to the direction where the present government of Umar Musa Yar’adua is heading to and we are beginning to read the writing clearly on the wall, that his government or some elements in his government are out to make nonsense of the whole crusade.
I have my reservation for the government of former President Obasanjo, especially his sincerity on the fight against corruption, but I have a strong belief that within his government there were people who were determined, serious and patriotic and have the will and desire to change the country for better. When Ribadu, according to media reports was booted out of NIPSS, during their graduation ceremony, the action raises so many issues that questioned the sincerity, not of only fighting corruption in Nigeria, but a glaring fact of disappointment and double standard of some Nigerians of the way to pay those who served the country diligently and sincerely. Ribadu, whatever might be said about him on what he did in EFCC, has demonstrated a sense of patriotism, commitment and determination in a country where corruption has become a norm and a way of life. He has, in just 5 years able to destroy gangs of 419ers who spoiled the name of the country in international arena, arrest and charged to court corrupt politicians and technocrats, big time crooks and aspiring criminals.
Then before we finish digesting the shock and disappointment on hearing what happened to Ribadu, the issue of former FCT Minister Mallam Nasir El-Rufai came up. Mallam Rufa’i can be described as a courageous technocrat who did something that only few can do if in his shoes, as a Minister of FCT. Most of us know the shady deals that were going on in FCDA and other agencies in the FCT. When he came in as Minister, Mallam Nasir first mission was to try and bring order to a rather disorganised, dubious FCT administration, re-introduce the Abuja master plan and ensure that land allocations were done in accordance with the FCT land allocation procedure. If what he did was in accordance with the provision of the Abuja master plan, then now why pursuing him and trying to humiliate him and his family as if he was the worst administrator in the history of the nation?
The treatment meted on Mallam Nasir El-Rufa’i, Ribadu and their families is nothing but an attempt by the Yar’adua government or some elements within the government to kill the hope of the people towards the fight against corruption and the zeal of compatriots who want to see things done right and to scare others from doing something similar. But one thing is for sure, they will never succeed. Before the emergence of EFCC or before the coming of el-Rufa’i to FCT, corrupt politicians and technocrats acted with impunity distributing and allocating lands indiscriminately, abusing the Abuja master plan at wills, 419ers were having a field day without checks. Nuhu Ribadu came in as the boss of EFCC and changed the directions of the anti graft war and on the other Nasir was able to change the rather notorious FCDA and its corrupt officials who made money out of sweat of others and these two gentlemen earned the applause of Nigerians and international community and whether we like it or not these two have created a history for Nigeria which affect the country positively.
Today, Nigerians are worried not only about the sincerity of the whole anti-graft fight, but the way those who did something substantial and sacrificed their lives for the country are treated. People like Ribadu are supposed to be celebrated and their names written in history books, but instead, are pursued, demoted, and their families humiliated. Yar’adua should try and convince us that his resolve to fight corruption is not a stage managed drama. Or and avenue for some aggrieved individuals who looted our treasury and want to get away with it try to cover their tracks.
Mallam Nasir el-Rufa’I, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Charles Chukuma Saludo deserved National Honours not what we see today. If the EFCC was not out to act some individual blue print, it is high time for the anti-graft agency to stop pursuing shadows and go for the real thieves who pilfer their state treasuries and left their people as poor as ever,. Mrs Farida Waziri is really a disappointment and her leadership in the EFCC is nothing but an agency turned into a revenge seeking institution which for the past six to seven months is doing nothing but to satisfy the wishes of sponsors of Mrs Waziri to be the head of the agency.
Kabiru Danladi,
Lawanti Village, KM25,
Along Gombe-Bauchi Road,
Akko LGA, Gombe State.
Kblondon2003@yahoo.com
08054546764, 08035150369