Senator Seriake Dickson, representing Bayelsa West, has drummed support for the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Abdulrasheed Bawa, stressing that he deserves a chance.
Dickson who expressed his thoughts through a post on Facebook, however, said there were lessons for Bawa to learn from the chequered history of the commission and the and manner all the previous EFCC leaders ended their service at the commission.
The former governor of Bayelsa also voiced his concern about political interference, impunity and the political use to which the EFCC and all security agencies had come under.
Below are Dickson’s views in detail:
“Today the Senate received a report on the President’s nomination of the Chairman of the EFCC in the person of Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa.
”First, I congratulate the new chairman on his appointment. I do so because his appointment to this sensitive position at age 40, even if done accidentally, reinforces the view some of us have about the need to involve more women and youths in the administration of our country at all levels, something the present APC-led Federal Government has not done enough.
”I disagree with all those who have used his age as a ground for opposing his nomination. In the history of this country, most leaders who have done well in leadership did so in their youth. Our leader and father, General Yakubu Gowon was foisted with the leadership of this country in crisis and led this nation through a civil war and he was just 36.
”Back home, LT Commander, Alfred Diete Spiff first military governor of old Rivers State became governor at just 25 and until date the legacies of General Gowon, AP Diete Spiff now Royal Majesty and others like them are there for all to see. There are still several such instances very well known to all.
”I believe that with his background, experience and with his performance today, Mr Bawa deserves a chance and that was why the majority of us even in opposition supported his confirmation but there are lessons this young gentleman needs to learn from the chequered history of the commission and particularly the way and manner all its leaders ended their service or their career at the commission.
”From my background, as one who started life in law enforcement, I have a natural disposition to support my colleagues who are doing sensitive assignments at risk of life and limb either in law enforcement or in defence and national security assignments. In 2007 as a member of the House of Representatives, I spoke out despite blackmail and sponsored amendments to the EFCC and ICPC Acts because of what my party at the time and the government of the day did unjustly in my view concerning the way and manner the then Chairman of the EFCC, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Ibrahim Lamorde and Ibrahim Magu were treated.
”I spoke on the floor of the House against my party and our government and thought it should have been handled differently. From Ribadu to Faridah Waziri, Ibrahim Lamorde and now to Magu, all these fine officers left in unclear and undignifying circumstances. The latest example being Magu who for five years could not even be confirmed and had his name as substantive chairman, and ended up leaving in the way and manner he left.
”This is very sad for the institution and a sad day for law enforcement in Nigeria.
”At today’s hearing, while Mr Bawa’s resume and performance were impressive, the big elephant in the room, however, remained the perennial issue of political interference and issues of impunity and the political use to which the EFCC and all security agencies in Nigeria for that matter have come under.
”Happily, these issues were raised but it is good to call on Mr President who has appointed this young man to create the environment of independence that will allow the young man and his team to do his job according to the facts, the laws of our country and according to his conscience.
”It is only in Nigeria that an anti-fraud unit and the appointment and screening of its head has become a big political issue. This is not the case of the head of the fraud section of the FBI in the US, the head of the NCA in the UK and others. The way and manner the plenary screening was organized and the political razzmatazz and partisanship surrounding the atmosphere already is the beginning of the problems.
”The job of the EFCC used to be part of the police anti-fraud unit where the officers were encouraged to work anonymously as investigators dealing with the facts and laws. The ruling party and leaders of the government need to allow this 40-year-old man who clearly is brilliant and experienced and who has by the grace of God, a long way ahead of him even after his EFCC service to render more service to this country and humanity, to effectively discharge his duties.
They all need to help him to succeed and not destroy him as they have done to others before him.
”As was pointed out today on the floor, I call on all those who mean well for him, the institution and our country to create an environment of independence and impartiality where facts and law are sacred irrespective of who is involved.
”I call on the supervisory ministry, the honourable attorney general of the federation whose ministry has and should have oversight over the activities of agencies such as the EFCC to help this young man and his officers and men.
”As a former law enforcement officer, prosecutor and attorney general, I am sad each time my colleagues in law enforcement who are given sensitive national assignments in the EFCC and other agencies end up being scandalized, criminalized, demonized, their careers and their names destroyed at the altar of political expediency by political actors who are not available to assist them when the need arises. From Ribadu till date, it has been a case of fine officers being destroyed by the system that created the problems in the first place particularly in the case of Magu who is left to lick his wounds with his family and few friends. All those who used him as an attack dog against those of us in the opposition are the same people that have now abandoned him and there is no talk of even confirming him retrospectively. No one knows the future that awaits him.
”While I do not know this young man and I am impressed by his performance today, I feel like I should put it on record because as I always do, I support law enforcement, defence and national security officers in their hours of need. By my values and principles, anyone who is oppressed and victimized or unjustly treated can call me a friend any day irrespective of party, tribe or religion because it could have been me. Justice and fairness are human qualities and have no partisan, ethnic or religious colour.
I rarely go near people when they are at the height of their glory or power.
So to the new EFCC helmsman and his team, all of us leaders of the country pray for his success.
”As the general elections in 2023 approach, what I know, if my experience as an opposition leader is anything to go by, is that idle and lazy politicians will leave serving and connecting with their people and be parading the corridors of power in Abuja to influence the EFCC and other security agencies to do the dirty job of running down the reputation and image of people they cannot fight politically with unfounded frivolous petitions and allegations.
I believe even the National Assembly should also be ready to exercise closer oversight in the areas that we can and the appropriate committees to interact and give him and his team the necessary support.
”Nigerians from all walks of life and across the political divide welcomed the fight against corruption initially but we must tell ourselves the truth that no Nigerian now believes that any honest fight against corruption ever took place.
”The general perception which may not be the reality but is a perception we must deal with is that the entire anti-corruption fight was an excuse to run down opposition elements, delegitimize others, criminalize and demonize people that do not agree with those in power.
”I do not believe that the perception and the opinion of the strategic international partners that Mr Bawa will be working with is different from this generally held view. This is the tragedy of the Nigerian situation where a very sensitive issue that is central to the future and development of our country has been politicized. So when next are we going to convince Nigerians and the world at large that there will be any genuine fight against corruption in the future? This is a tragedy.
”In Nigeria today, the most pressing challenge is insecurity where people are being killed, maimed, kidnapped, several hundreds every day from all parts of our country. The central problem which all must address for now is insecurity but if our experiences in the past are anything to go by, as we move towards 2023, more emphasis will be on the EFCC. Most politicians particularly of the party in government and the people in government will converge more on the EFCC offices to mount pressure on the EFCC to hound people, likely opponents, that they will be using the EFCC and related agencies to criminalize, demonize, silence or coerce.
”Happily, most of these concerns were raised by several Senators who had the chance to contribute by the benevolence of the Senate President.
”We wish Mr Bawa the best of luck and congratulations as he rewrites the history of the EFCC and by so doing, writes his history”.
