A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Femi Odekunle on Tuesday stated that contrary to insinuations that President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government is alone in the fight against corruption in the country, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, all anti-graft agencies and some other relevant stakeholders are always with the president on the mission
Prof Odekunle who made the clarification in Ibadan at an ongoing two days capacity building on “Drafting Charges for State Prosecutors”, organised by PACAC in collaboration with the National Prosecution Coordinating Committee and Body of Attorneys-General stated that those sharing such views may think so because of the uncompromising stance of the President on corruption which may not be at par with many elites who use to benefit from the proceeds of corruption.
He lamented that many elites which cuts across different strata and sector including political parties may not show the needed support for the fight but assured that more professionals and elites are showing willingness by the day to support the fight against corruption, adding that the country cannot make any progress without fighting corruption to a halt.
He however harped on the need for the fight to be forced down the line, not with military approach but through needed legal and practical backing stressing that the workshop for state prosecutors would definitely help prepare and equip prosecutors better in convicting corrupt people and recover proceeds of corruption.
“It is fake information that President Muhammadu Buhari is alone in the fight against corruption. The Vice President, the EFCC, ICPC, CCB, PACAC and many others are all in the fight along with the President. But I know people can say that because of the uncompromising stance, characteristics and body language of the President on the issue of corruption.
“I am sure it is only a leader like Buhari who can take such stand on corruption. Yet the country cannot make any progress without fighting corruption to a halt. Although, some people across the party line and other sectors who have benefitted or who are benefitting from the proceeds of corruption may be seen not to be with the President but many more professionals and elites are with him on the mission.
“The government is committed to changing the ways we fight corruption and that is why this workshop is being organised for state prosecutors. EFCC, ICPC, CCB and other are doing their job in the fight but PACAC as a think tank saw the need to also build the capacity of the prosecutors and equip them so as to win more.
“This training will provide them with the needed equipment and modern trend on how to go about the prosecution as well as make them more passionate and see themselves as partners in the fight against corruption,” he stated.
The Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Seun Abimbola, on his part agreed that the whistle blowing policy of the government will no doubt restore Nigerians sense of value and make them collaborators in the fight against corruption but expressed worry that the culture, which most Nigerians grew up with does not shield evil deeds in the society has been eroded over the years.
Abimbola stated that whistle blowing can restore same in the interest of the overall society warning that the society has allowed too much space for evil to hide and it is already to the detriment of the country at large.
“I think the whistle blowing policy is trying to restore our sense of value. The culture we grew up with is that which exposes evil in the society but that culture has been eroded over the years and the society is worse for it.
“In this case, I think it would be to the good of all if the motive behind the policy is not only driving by pecuniary rewards but on the sense of that everybody wants to lift the society. We have allowed too much space for evil to hide in our society and we just have to change.
“That is why Oyo State Ministry of Justice is happy to collaborate with PACAC to host the capacity building to empower and equip state prosecutors better in the fight against corruption,” Abimbola said.
In his remark, Special Assistant to the President on Financial Crimes, Mr Kehinde Oginni said many people have voluntarily given information to the federal government and which has led to the recovery of stolen funds without such people asking for the pecuniary benefits.
He noted that the whistle blowing policy is fast becoming a culture calling expressing confidence that the passage of the Whistle blowing Protection bill and the Proceeds of Crime bill before the Eights Assembly will no doubt strengthen the fight
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